Satish Aditya
Motihari : An inter-state gang of ATM raiders after failing in their bid to cut an SBI ATM containing over Rs 35 lakh cash dug it out and took it away on November 21, 2021, night, at Kotwa in East Champaran District in North Bihar.
The SBI ATM kiosk is located near SBI branch, Main Road, Kotwa Bazaar under Kotawa police station (PS) in East Champaran District and contained Rs 35.77 lakh cash. This SBI branch with ATM is located near Kotwa PS, police said.
SDPO, Motihari, Arun Kumar Gupta, said the thieves raided three ATM under Kotawa, Bairiya Bazar under Turkauliya PS, and Sataha under Paharpur PS areas on November 21, 2021, night. They took away Rs 6 lakh cash from Tata Indicash ATM from Bairiya but failed to loot cash from PNB ATM at Sataha. Police were informed by the locals on November 22, 2021, morning, about the three incidents.
SHO, Kotwa PS, Nitin Kumar, said that the thieves were carrying gas cutter and other implements to cut the ATM kioks and sprayed some chemical on CCTV cameras. However, five thieves were seen in CCTV footage trying to dig out the ATM. Some locals informed the shopkeepers in wee hours on November 22, 2021, that an SUV was parked near the ATM. Manager, SBI Branch, Kotwa, Jitendra Kumar, said the thieves had broken all the wires of Alarm and CCTV.
SDPO Gupta said that the miscreants used gas cutter to cut the ATM and took away the cash box containing Rs 6 lakh cash. On November 21, 2021, night, the miscreants also tried to cut the ATM of PNB Branch at Sataha under Paharpur PS but they failed in their mission though they vandalised the ATM there.
Police suspect that three groups of a gang of ATM raiders were involved the three incidents having after earlier planning the crime with help from few local thieves. Three cases were lodged with Kotawa, Turkauliya, and Pahadpur police stations by the respective bank branches and investigation is on.