2 minors among 5 arrested for Panipat ATM robbery bid

With the arrest of five persons, including two juveniles, the Panipat police have busted a gang who attempted to break into an ATM of SBI Bank on Kutani road in the city.

The accused have been identified as Sooraj of Babarpur, Karan of Shimla Mulana and Ashu, alias Badal of Bharat Nagar. The accused also accepted the involvement in theft by breaking a wall of UCO Bank in Gharaunda in Karnal and a mobile shop.

Addressing medipersons, DSP Satish Vats said as the accused tried to break into an SBI ATM on Kutani road in the intervening night of June 2 and June 3, the alarm rang in the main branch of the bank.

The team on patrol, ERV Dial 112 and a rider, reached the spot after getting information from the control room. As the police team opened the shutter, the team found four youths who tried to break the ATM with iron rods.

The accused attacked the team in which two police personnel – SPO Manoj and Homeguard Soliya -- got injured. ASI Narender caught one of them who injured ASI Narender and managed to run away from the spot. The Qilla police registered a case on the complaint of ASI Narender.

Taking a stringent note of the incident, SP Bhupender Singh handed over the matter to CIA-2 in-charge Inspector Phool Kumar and his team. Following the tip-off, the police team nabbed four accused, including a juvenile, on Thursday evening from Babarpur mandi.

During preliminary investigation, the accused also revealed their one more associate’s name. The team also arrested the accused on Friday morning and he was also found to be a juvenile, DSP Vats said.

The accused had criminal records. A snatching case was already registered against Ashu, two criminal case against Sooraj, five cases against Karan and two cases against a juvenile. All three accused were released on bail around two months ago. However,they again started criminal activities to earn money through shortcuts, the DSP said.

The two accused were produced in the juvenile court on Friday and the court sent them to juvenile homes in Ambala and Madhuban in Karnal district. The three accused were also produced in the court, and the court sent Ashu to judicial custody, while Karan and Sooraj wee sent in three-day police remand, the DSP said.