Daijiworld Media Network - Kasaragod (RS)
Kasaragod, Jun 18: Periya branch of North Malabar Grameena Bank within Bekal police station limits near here, has reported a theft of Rs 3.5 crore worth gold jewellery and seven lac rupees in cash from its safe room on Thursday, June 18.
The theft came to light when the staff opened the door for business on Thursday morning. They found the safe room door having been broken open and other things having been scattered around.
The policemen believe that the incident occurred in the wee hours on Thursday. The robbers gained entry into the bank by breaking open the rear side window of the branch. The robbers have taken away gold ornaments pledged by the bank customers as security for the gold loans availed by them, informed one of the bank employees.
Tomil Tadacheri, Inspector General of Police along with his staff visited the spot and a case has been registered in Bekal Police station. Investigation is on.
Kasargod: North Malbar Grameena Bank Robbery - Further Details
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, June 19: In the case of robbery of Periya Bazar branch of North Malbar Grameena Bank located by the side of national highway 17 near Bekal after midnight on Wednesday June 17, more details have since been received. Revised estimate of the gold ornaments lost in this heist is three crore rupees and actual cash robbed was Rs 6.75 lac.
The thieves had gained entry into the Bank premises located in the second floor of a two-storied building, by removing the rear window of the bank including the frame. They reportedly accessed the widow by climbing over a building under constructions at the back of the Bank. They entered the Bank at around 1.50 am on Thursday June 18 and broke open the grill and door of the safe room. They then dragged the safe locker to the bank hall and broke it open, to gain access to the gold ornaments and cash.
T P Kunhikoran, a hotellier functioning near the Bank, came to the Bank along with some other locals, after hearing some sounds at night. By then, the gang of thieves escaped in a vehicle. The policemen were informed immediately. The thieves had severed power connection to the area before entering the bank. The policemen have collected samples of thumb impressions they believe, belong to the robbers. A sickle left behind by the robbers was found behind the bank. Foot prints of the robbers were found inside bank premises. Sniffer dogs and finger print experts visited the bank on Thursday.
The bank was targetted by some thieves two years back too. The accused in that case was recently arrested by the policemen in another case. Deputy superintendent of police P P Habib Rahiman said there are similarities in the modus operandi employed by the thieves in robbing Chelambra branch of South Malbar Grameena Bank.
The Bank said it has covered all items by insurance to the extent of Rs 12 crore and asked its customers not to panic. Some locals expressed the opinion that the thieves could have been caught if the policemen had responded to the call immediately. It is alleged, that when they were informed of the robbery over phone, the policemen had asked the callers to catch hold of the thieves and hand over them to the policemen after breaking their limbs. "If we catch them, they get released in six months," they allegedly told the callers.
The sniffer dogs led the policemen to a hand glove and a box used to store gold ornaments in the field behind the local petrol bunk which the policemen believe, belong to the robbers. One of the dogs led the policemen to the mosque area.