The Hindu : New Delhi News : Police claim to have solved series of bank robberies

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Police claim to have solved series of bank robberies

Staff Reporter

The accused have confessed to the crimes: DCP Chaudhry

All three accused residents of Meerut
Were nabbed at Central Bank in Krishna Market

NEW DELHI: A day after three persons were arrested in connection with a foiled robbery attempt at a bank in Kalkaji here, the police on Tuesday claimed to have solved a series of bank robberies in South Delhi that took place in the past few months.

The accused — Shaheed, Majid and Ishtyak — were arrested on Monday evening when they returned to pick up their motorcycle after an unsuccessful robbery attempt in the Krishna Market branch of the Central Bank. Three persons —Head Constable Ashok, Constable Vikram and tea-vendor Rajkumar — had sustained bullet injuries in their effort to catch the robbers.

The accused along with their third accomplice reached the Central Bank of India branch in the afternoon. One of them, who was wearing a monkey cap and helmet, entered the cabin of bank manager Prem Chand and asked him to hand over the cash training a pistol at his temple. When the manager raised an alarm, some customers along with an elderly man caught the robber. But he managed to free himself and fled with his three accomplices who were waiting outside. However, three of the accused were arrested when they returned to pick up their motorcycle a few hours later.

During interrogation, the three purportedly confessed to their involvement in a number of robberies inside and outside banks in South Delhi in recent times. “They have confessed to their involvement in Rs.5.7 lakh robbery in Hauz Khas branch of UCO Bank and another Rs.2.81 lakh robbery in Sheikh Sarai branch of the same bank. They also robbed a person of Rs.5.5 lakh outside the State Bank of India bank in Malviya Nagar. They have also committed snatching and robberies in neighbouring Ghaziabad and Meerut,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Ajay Chaudhry.

The accused, all residents of Siwal Khas village in Meerut, purportedly took to crime to meet their everyday needs and started out by committing petty thefts and snatchings. Gradually they began to target persons withdrawing huge amounts from banks and then graduated to committing bank robberies.

“The accused would gather information about security guards and closed-circuit television cameras in the bank before targeting it. Where they found that the security arrangements were inadequate, they would commit robbery,” said Mr. Chaudhry.

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