ATM robbery bid foiled in city as alarm goes off in Mumbai

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 6

An alarm set off at Mumbai headquarters of a private bank alerted the cops here leading to the arrest of three ATM robbers, while two of their accomplices managed to slip away from the spot.

The incident occurred in the Gehri Mandi area in Jandiala Guru here in the intervening night of January 4 and 5.

Those arrested were identified as Prabhjit Singh and Arshraj Singh, both residents of Malchak village in Tarn Taran, and Amarjit Singh of Deenpur village.

The kingpin of the gang, Shamsher Singh and his accomplice Vikramjit Singh, managed to slip away after a brief firing with PCR team.

A case under Sections 399 (preparation of dacoity), 402 (assembling for dacoity), 457 (criminal trespass), 380 (theft), 511 of the IPC, and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act in this connection, while raids were on to nab the absconders.

According to information, the accused barged into the bank after breaking open the shutter of Axis Bank branch in Gehri Mandi village. When they were breaking the auto teller machine inside the bank containing Rs 28 lakh, an alarm rang in its Mumbai headquarters and authorities later informed the local police. A PCR team comprising constables Manjinder Singh and Major Singh reached the spot and found two armed youth – Shamsher Singh and Vikramjit Singh – standing outside. When challenged they fired upon the police team. When it retaliated and fired in the air, they fled away.

Showing presence of mind, the cops put down the shutters of the bank leaving three of their accomplices trapped inside. While the police called for backup, passersby also gathered near the spot and supported the policemen. Later, police personnel nabbed the remaining three robbers and confiscated sharp weapons from their possession.

SP (investigations) Amandeep Kaur said that raids were on to nab Shamsher and Bikramjit Singh. Preliminary interrogation revealed that Shamsher was the kingpin of the gang and his arrest might lead to crack many other ATM robbery cases, she pointed out.