A gang of armed bandits struck at Goldfields Inc on the Eccles Public Road on Wednesday night, grabbing $225,000 and over $800,000 in jewellery, and escaping after an exchange of gunfire with policemen.

In the process, the bandits battered and wounded two watchmen and CEO of Goldfields Inc, Jamal Dwarka.

Dwarka's wife, Lydia Dwarka said the police had a trigger-happy approach and wildly fired at her husband as he approached them on their arrival. How-ever, he was not hit.

The police said they are investigating the matter and disclaimed knowledge of shots being fired at Dwarka by ranks at the scene. They acknowledged that there was an exchange of gunfire. In a release, the police said that a patrol which was in the area confronted the bandits who fired several shots at them while escaping.

Around 11 pm on Wednesday, during a blackout, about six or seven men entered the premises. According to the witnesses, the men all wore masks and had guns.

Lydia Dwarka said she was in the office when she heard that two of the watchmen had been tied up by the bandits. She then learnt that the gunmen watched and waited until her husband arrived and then let one of the watchmen go, sending him to ask for food at the house, as a ruse to gain entry.

But she said the man instead ran straight to the nearby gas station and telephoned the police. The other worker was later able to bite his way through the ropes and escape.

Lydia Dwarka said the men kicked down a northern door, entered the premises and surrounded the family, demanding money. She handed over $25,000. The men also took over 20 diamond rings valued at approximately $800,000 and the keys to the house and car as well as two US passports and two cellular phones.

She said the men demanded more cash and her husband handed over $200,000, which he had stashed in a drawer in the office.

According to the woman, the men asked for her husband by name and knew where the money was kept. She said that they left the same way that they came, on foot and through the Eccles Old Road.