Money exchanger robbed of Rs 5 lakh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

Four unidentified persons robbed a money exchanger of Rs 5 lakh here today. They also took away 500 Australian and US dollars along with other valuables, the victim said. The money exchanger’s outlet is situated at Batala road. Senior police officials reached the spot after getting the information for investigation.

Victim Vinod Bhatia said the robbers had covered their faces and were equipped with firearms and sharp-edged weapons.

While giving details, he said the accused entered his shop at around 6 pm and took out their weapons swiftly, demanding keys of the cash drawer. They tied him with a tape roll and also applied it to his mouth to keep him from raising the alarm. They bundled him in his cabin but when Bhatia tried to resist they attacked and left him injured.

Bhatia suspected that the looters were notorious gangsters Saraj Singh Mintoo and Shubham Singh who had killed Vipin Sharma, a leader of Hindu Sangharsh Sena, last year.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harjit Singh Dhaliwal said there was no CCTV camera inside the shop while they were trying to find clues from other CCTV cameras in the area. He said the identity of criminals was yet to be established.

Theft at bank

Tarn Taran: Rs 5.61 lakh was stolen from a branch of Central Co-Operative Bank in Varnala, 35 km from here, last night. The Patti Sadar police have registered a case on the statement of  Kulwant Singh, an employee of the bank. The police said the bank authorities came to know about the theft when they reached the bank in the morning hours today. Thieves broke the locks of the main gate to enter the bank. They also damaged CCTV cameras installed in the bank. According to the police, investigation into the case is on. — OC