Synopsis
Karnataka Police have arrested three suspects involved in the K.C. Road bank robbery in Mangaluru, where over Rs 12 crore in gold was stolen. The suspects were apprehended across Tamil Nadu, and the investigation suggests possible insider involvement.Key Takeaways
- Three individuals arrested in relation to the Mangaluru bank heist.
- Robbers stole over Rs 12 crore in gold and cash.
- Investigation points to potential insider involvement.
- Police have formed teams to tackle the case.
- Previous bank robbery incidents raise safety concerns.
Mangaluru, Jan 20 (NationPress) - The Karnataka Police have apprehended three individuals involved in the robbery at the K.C. Road branch of the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank located near Ullal in Mangaluru, as confirmed by police sources on Monday.
The suspects have been identified as Murugundi Devar, Prakash alias Joshwa, and Manivannan.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated that the suspects were arrested from various locations within Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the police have confiscated two pistols and several swords. The individuals are originally from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu but had been residing in the Dharavi area of Mumbai.
The robbery occurred on January 17, when a gang of five armed robbers stole over Rs 12 crore worth of gold by threatening bank employees with firearms, swords, and knives in the Mangaluru district of Karnataka.
The perpetrators used a vehicle registered in Maharashtra for the crime. After the robbery, they fled to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu via Kerala.
“This crime would not have been feasible without local collusion. We suspect involvement from insiders and are interrogating the arrested suspects,” asserted Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was attending an event in Mangaluru, held an emergency meeting with senior police officials and called for immediate action to apprehend the thieves.
According to police reports, the robbers stormed into the K.C. Road branch of the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Mangaluru in a car, brandishing weapons. They made away with gold items worth over Rs 12 crore and Rs 5 lakh in cash.
The gang packed the gold and cash into four to five bags before vanishing.
Following an initial investigation, police suspected insider involvement. Notably, the bank’s CCTV cameras were under repair on the day of the incident, which raised suspicions.
In response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s presence in Mangaluru, the police department was engaged in enhancing security measures. The bank is situated in a densely populated area with a significant minority community, and the street was relatively empty as many individuals were attending prayers. The police believe the robbers meticulously studied the setting and executed their robbery accordingly.
The police department established eight teams led by ACP Dhanya Nayak to resolve the case. Two suspects were previously questioned regarding the incident.
This bank had previously been targeted in a robbery back in 2017. Police teams have since traveled to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, and Goa in pursuit of leads.
The recent incident has heightened concerns, coming just a day after two robbers fatally shot an ATM cash vehicle staff member and stole Rs 93 lakh in cash in Bidar, Karnataka.
On October 28, 2024, robbers broke into a window of the State Bank of India (SBI) building and looted Rs 12.95 crore worth of gold jewelry in Nyamati town of Davangere district. The gang also took the DVR and CCTV equipment from the bank. Police suspect that the same gang may be behind these various incidents.
