Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 17: In a brazen daylight heist, a six-member armed gang looted over Rs 15 crore worth of gold ornaments and Rs 5 lac cash from the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank's KC Road branch near Ullal on Friday. The gang threatened the bank staff at gunpoint and escaped in a grey Fiat car.
The miscreants, wielding guns and swords, stormed into the bank, where they held three female staff members, one male staff member, and a CCTV technician at gunpoint. Threatening to kill them if they resisted, the robbers forced open the bank's locker and emptied it of valuables before making their getaway.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader visited the crime scene and directed the police to expedite the investigation and apprehend the culprits. The police are working tirelessly to trace the perpetrators with the aid of forensic experts and a canine squad.
During the robbery, the gang forced a group of students who were at a bakery on the ground floor to stay away from the bank. They spoke in Kannada among themselves but communicated with the bank staff in Hindi, according to witness statements gathered by the police.
Coincidentally, the bank's CCTV system was undergoing repairs at the time of the robbery. The technician who had come to fix the system was also present and became a victim. The robbers forcibly took a ring from the technician and carried out their crime with precision.
The KC Road junction, usually a bustling area, was relatively quiet on the day of the robbery due to the weekend. This likely provided the robbers an opportunity to carry out their plan without raising suspicion.
The Ullal police, supported by fingerprint experts and other investigative teams, are gathering evidence. Authorities are pursuing all leads, with a special focus on tracing the grey Fiat car used in the escape.
The police in a statement said, “An armed robbery was reported at Sahakari Sangha Bank, Kotekar, today between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM. A group of 5-6 individuals, aged 25-35, entered the bank wearing masks and carrying weapons, including a pistol, a sword, and a knife. At the time of the incident, 4-5 employees were present in the bank.
“The accused, who were speaking in Hindi, threatened the staff and forced them to open the vault, which contained gold jewellery, and other valuables. Preliminary estimates suggest the value of the stolen items is around Rs 10-12 crore, though detailed assessments are underway.
“The culprits fled the scene in a black Fiat car. Multiple police teams have been formed to investigate the case and apprehend the accused. Efforts are being intensified to track the suspects based on available leads and technical surveillance,” said the police.