Mangalore: 'ATM Robbery Case Proved Efficiency of Mangalore Police'
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Dec 15: Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh on Thursday December 15 said that ATM robbery attempt that took place in the city earlier in the day was a perfect example of police-public cooperation that helped in catching hold of the culprits within minutes.
Speaking to media persons on the incident, Singh said that the culprits had been found on a Mangalore-Puttur KSRTC (KA 19 F 2822) bus near Kannur Mosque at Adyar, but they tried to flee on spotting the police. But the public swung into action and chased down the robbers before handing them over to the police, he said.
He added that the police had noted down the names of all those who had helped them, and that they would be specially felicitated on Friday December 16.
Immediately after the incident, all control rooms in the city were alerted and all PCR vehicle, police jeeps, posts, etc were informed. "Police was on high vigil across the city," he said.
"Today's incident proved the efficiency of Mangalore police," Singh said, thanking all the police officers who took part in the operation.
DGP has announced Rs 20,000 for the police team and police commissioner will give them Rs 10,000 in appreciation of their work.
SBI official Raghuram Shetty who was present at the press meet added that SBI too will reward the police team after consulting higher officials.
Those arrested are Murali, Sridhar, Mahindran and Harihar, all from different places in Tamil Nadu. Singh said that police here will get in touch with Tamil Nadu police and find out more about the culprits, and also hand them over for further invesitigation.
About the culprits, Singh said that they were not professional, and did not have any tools or weapons with them.
He mentioned that the amount taken away was not Rs 32 lac as reported initially but Rs 25 lac.
Raghuram Shetty said that it was a security lapse on the part of Pro Interact Agency which has the reponsibility of depositing the money in ATM. "There was only one gunman, who went inside the ATM along with the person depositing the cash, which gave the robbers a good opportunity to do their job. The gunman should have stayed behind," he said.
However, he ruled out any discontinuation in the contract with Pro Interact Agency, stating that their contract was at a national level, and had been so for the last five years.
"The robbers broke the glass of the car and took away the iron box which contained the money. Though it was heavy, they managed to get away," he added.
However, they were not able to break open the box and take the money, Singh said.
When asked about the incident at Pumpwell wherein a policeman had thrashed a bus driver which led to a protest and road block in the city, Singh laughed it off and brushed away the incident terming it a 'traffic issue' which was 'sorted out' soon.
ACP Dharmaiah, Ravindra Gadadi, DCP Venkatesh Prasanna and others were present.