Heavily Armed Gang Steals Over Rs 12 Crore in Gold in Karnataka, CM Demands Immediate Action
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Synopsis
On January 17, an armed gang of five dacoits stole over Rs 12 crore worth of gold from a bank in Mangaluru, Karnataka. The Chief Minister has ordered immediate action for their apprehension, following a series of violent robberies in the state.
Key Takeaways
- Armed gang steals over Rs 12 crore in gold.
- Incident raises security concerns in Karnataka.
- Police suspect possible insider involvement.
- Chief Minister demands swift action against robbers.
- Special teams launched to apprehend the criminals.
Mangaluru, (Karnataka) Jan 17 (NationPress) A heavily armed group of five robbers raided a bank in Mangaluru district, stealing more than Rs 12 crore worth of gold while threatening bank employees with firearms, swords, and knives on Friday.
This alarming event comes just a day after two criminals fatally shot an ATM cash vehicle staff member and stole Rs 93 lakh in cash in Bidar city.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was attending an event in Mangaluru, convened an emergency meeting with senior police officials and demanded swift action to capture the thieves.
According to police reports, the robbers stormed into the K.C. Road branch of the Koteker Ullal Cooperative Bank in a vehicle, threatening employees with weapons. They escaped with gold valuables exceeding Rs 12 crore and Rs 5 lakh in cash.
The gang quickly stuffed gold and cash into four to five bags before fleeing the scene.
Usha, a resident near the bank who witnessed the robbery, recounted seeing five individuals rushing out. "I was terrified. Four of them carried the bags while one was trailing behind. All five wore masks and caps, and the area was deserted due to it being Friday," she stated.
Initial investigations by the police suggest possible insider involvement. Notably, the bank's CCTV cameras had been sent for repair on the day of the incident, raising suspicions.
In response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's visit to Mangaluru, the police department hurriedly arranged for additional security. The bank is situated in a densely populated area primarily inhabited by the minority community, and the street was quiet as many were engaged in prayers. Authorities believe the robbers meticulously planned the heist.
Following the Koteker Ullal Cooperative Bank robbery, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a crucial meeting with senior police officials in Mangaluru, issuing firm orders for the rapid capture of those responsible.
Attendees at the meeting included West Range IGP Amit Singh, Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal, SP Yathish N, and DySP.
After gathering essential details regarding the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his frustration, asking, "Why did this happen with all of you present? How did the thieves manage to escape so easily? How many tolls did they pass through? Why weren’t the tolls adequately monitored?"
“There was a lack of security personnel at the cooperative bank, with only five or six bank employees present,” the Chief Minister remarked angrily.
Police officials informed him that the suspects communicated in Kannada and Hindi.
The Chief Minister instructed, "There must be strict checks at all toll gates. Establish roadblocks across the four districts and apprehend the culprits swiftly, ensuring severe legal action against them."
In the meantime, the police have created special teams and initiated a manhunt for the robbers.
