Steephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod
Kasargod, Apr 29: Manjeshwar police have successfully arrested the prime accused in the sensational daylight robbery of an ATM cash van that occurred in Uppala two years ago.
The arrested individual has been identified as Arumugam (55), a resident of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. He was apprehended by a special police team in Chhattisgarh.
The robbery took place on March 27, 2024, around 2 pm. While staff from a private cash agency were busy refilling an ATM in Uppala town, the culprits smashed the glass of the parked van and fled with a bag containing Rs 50 lac.
The police investigation, which included a thorough review of CCTV footage and mobile tower data, revealed the involvement of an organised interstate robbery gang. While two other suspects had been arrested previously, the mastermind, Arumugam, had managed to evade capture.
Arumugam was recently detained in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in connection with another case but had gone into hiding after being released on bail. Acting on specific intelligence, the Manjeshwar police conducted a coordinated operation and tracked him down.
The accused is reportedly involved in several similar high-profile robberies across different states. Further investigation is underway to recover the stolen cash and identify other potential links to the gang.