Armed robbers loot Rs 24 lakh from HDFC bank at Manjhwind

Five armed robbers looted Rs 24 lakh from HDFC bank at Manjhwind village near Kathunangal in broad daylight here today.

The incident occurred at around 3 pm while the police got the information at around 3.30 pm when the bank authorities came out after the incident.

The miscreants had rolled down the shutters of the bank and also took away three mobiles and laptops from the staff while escaping. The mobile and laptop was recovered just a few meters away from the spot. They also took away a digital video recorder of the CCTV camera in the bank.

Senior police authorities led by Amritsar rural SSP Charanjit Singh and Harinder Singh Gill, SP (D), reached the spot and started investigations. The police teams have been scanning footage from the CCTV cameras adjoining the area for clues about the perpetrators.

According to information available, the robbers detained the unarmed guard, cashier, staff and customers by pointing pistol at them. The five robbers, three of whom were equipped with pistols, came on two bikes. They had covered their faces. After entering the bank, they took the guard and bank staff hostage. They went to the cashier and threatened to shoot him and asked him to hand over the entire cash. Within minutes, they took the cash and fled the scene.

“As the robbers rolled down the shutters of the bank while escaping, the bank staff did not dare to open it. They informed the police around half an hour later. Had they informed the police on time, we would have taken timely action leading to their arrest,” said the SSP while adding that the police would nab the robbers soon.

Inadequate security

The lack of security in bank premises has raised many questions. There was only one unarmed private security guard at the bank. “As per information received, the bank has a daily dealing of Rs 40 lakh and above while security arrangements were inadequate. We have spoken to the bank authorities but due to some policy issues, they did not have an armed security guard,” said the SSP, while adding that the police have repeatedly asked financial institutions like banks to maintain adequate security arrangements.