Diary Times News Service
Baddi, 10 August: In a shocking incident, a gang of masked miscreants targeted two ATMs of the State Bank of India (SBI) and looted nearly ₹19 lakh in a swift, well-planned robbery. The police have formed a special task force to trace the criminals who fled towards Punjab after the crime.
The robbery took place at around 3:15 am when five masked men arrived in a stolen car at the ATM cabin on the Baddi-Nalagarh highway. Using a gas cutter, they quickly cut open the two ATMs and looted nearly ₹19 lakh in cash, all within just 15 minutes. The theft alarm at the SBI’s Mumbai office immediately alerted the bank authorities, who then informed the Baddi police. However, by the time the police arrived, the criminals had fled. They abandoned the stolen car near the Dherowal barrier on the Punjab border and escaped in another vehicle.
In response to the crime, the district police chief immediately constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to nab the robbers. The SIT, led by SHO Rakesh Rai and SHO Shyam Lal, is working round the clock, following clues and analyzing crucial evidence. Preliminary investigations indicate that the robbers did a thorough recce before carrying out the robbery, possibly following the vehicle that had loaded cash into the ATM the previous evening.
The miscreants tried to evade identification by spraying black paint on the CCTV cameras installed inside and outside the ATM cabin. Despite these efforts, their movements were partially recorded by other surveillance cameras present in the area. The footage shows that the gang arrived at the scene around 3:10 am, executed the robbery in a matter of minutes and fled the area before the police arrived.
ASP Baddi and DSP visited the crime scene to collect evidence and monitor the investigation. DSP Khajana Ram said, “We have got vital clues from the CCTV footage and are confident that we will nab the culprits soon.”
The brazenness of this robbery has raised concerns about the security of ATMs, especially in areas near the state borders. The local police are stepping up efforts to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of residents. Investigations are underway and the officers are committed to bring the culprits to justice.
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