Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)

Hassan, May 12: Efforts made by robbers to loot a Canara Bank ATM at Balenahalli village in Arasikere taluk in the district failed to materialize because of the presence of mind exhibited by a truck driver.

The truck driver was passing by the ATM at midnight on Tuesday May 10, when he saw that a gang of robbers with five to six members was brandishing lethal weapons and had attacked the ATM located by the side of the bank branch. The robbers at first attacked the guard, identified as Basavaraju, and tied him up. Then they used gas cutters in an effort to gain access to the cash stored inside the ATM.

The driver saw that the robbers were hitting the guard. Without stopping the vehicle, he drove on, reached Gandasi police station, and explained what he had seen to the personnel there. Sub-inspector of the station, Arogyappa, along with staff as well as Arasikere rural station circle inspector, Sadananda Tippannavar, rushed to the spot immediately. The robbers, after seeing the police, tried to flee, and succeeded in doing so after firing at the police personnel who chased them.

The policemen found some lethal weapons and gas cutters used by the robbers. District superintendent of police (SP), Rahul Kumar Shahpurwad, deputy superintendent of police, Dasharath Murty, and others visited the spot. Sniffer dogs and finger print experts also surveyed the area. A case stands registered in Gandasi police station. The SP said that the robbery could be averted because of the alertness of the truck driver, and that the damage inflicted on the bank happens to be minimum.

During preliminary investigation, police had found that the gang involved was from outside the state. Injured guard, Basavaraju, was hospitalized. Policemen are in the process of gathering more information about the incident from him.