Sonepat, November 1
The Sonepat police are painstakingly sifting through the affidavits from the victims of the Gohana bank heist to ascertain the exact details of their stolen valuables.

The authorities are faced with the challenge of identifying the real owners of the stolen property after having recovered around 44 kg ornaments from different hideouts of the alleged accused.

At least 65 out of the total 78 Punjab National Bank customers whose lockers were broken into on the night of October 26 and 27 have so far submitted their claims to the police authorities at Gohana.

A team of police officers was assessing the claims and the exercise is likely to continue for the next 2-3 days.

“The police have examined the statements of 30 customers and the claims of the rest will be authenticated shortly,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Gohana Rajiv Deswal.

The minimum claim of 52 gm gold has been made by Suresh of Gohana Mandi, while Samunder of Kohla village has made the maximum claim of 3.49 kg gold and silver ornaments, he said.

The police have so far recovered 10.01 kg ornaments (gold and silver) from a brick kiln between Katwal and Lath village, 13.4 kg from two houses in Katwal village, 15.5 kg from a house at Gugaheri village in Rohtak district and 4.595 kg from a store room in the house of absconding accused Rajesh of Katwal village.

The police today recovered Rs 50,000, a country made pistol and two live cartridges belonging to Satish from an abandoned brick-kiln near Katwal village.

Following interrogation of three accused — Surender, Balraj and Satish — arrested so far, the police late last night arrested Arvind, alias Bholu, near Farmana village. He told the police that he had been engaged by the alleged accused for digging the tunnel and was paid Rs 5,000 for three days of work. Arvind also belongs to Katwal village.

The victims of the break-in, meanwhile, continued their sit-in outside the bank for the sixth day today. They said the protest would continue till they got back their stolen property.