Rs 50 lakh looted from Nabha bank staff recovered within 6 hours; 2 held

Tribune News Service
Patiala, November 14

Two men were arrested on Wednesday within six hours of looting Rs 50 lakh from bank officials at Nabha in Punjab's Patiala district, police said.

The two suspects—one of who is the son of a retired policeman—targeted a bank van that was depositing cash in the branch, police said. They asked security guards stationed outside to hand over the cash, then suddenly shot a guard in the stomach. The guard, Prem Chand (52), succumbed to the bullet injuries at a local hospital, the Patiala SSP said.

The accused have been identified as Jagdev Singh (35) and Amanjit Singh (37), both residents of Sangrur. They were arrested from Sangrur district, SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.

The two motorcycle-borne men looted the cash from officials of a bank at Nabha in Patiala district on Wednesday morning by brandishing a gun.

The double barrel gun of the security guard, which was snatched by the accused, has been recovered, police said.

Sidhu alleged that the banks have not been following police instructions despite being asked several times to inform police before transferring cash in large amount.

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora has announced cash reward of Rs 1 lakh to Patiala police. Patiala SSP Mandeep Sidhu announced to pass the reward money to the deceased bank guard's family.

The incident comes a year after some unknown armed men intercepted and robbed a cash van belonging to a private bank of Rs 1.33 crore near Banur. Police are yet to arrest all suspects involved in the case.