Robbers target ATM in Ambala, flee with Rs 19 lakh

Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 8

Three unidentified robbers broke open an ATM of the SBI using a gas cutter near Manav Chowk in Ambala City and decamped with Rs 19 lakh in the wee hours of today.

Before committing the crime, they allegedly tied the ATM guard and made him unconscious using some intoxicants. The robbers used a colour spray on CCTV cameras to prevent their images from being captured. The miscreants targeted the ATM around 2 am.

Ramesh Kumar, the guard, claimed that around 2 am, he came out of the ATM booth to answer nature's call when he was overpowered by three men, who used intoxicants to make him unconscious.

The robbers pulled the shutter down, used a gas cutter to break open the machine and decamped with the cash.

The matter came to light when the second security guard, Rampal, reached the ATM booth in the morning. He found Ramesh Kumar unconscious in the cabin.

After being informed, the police reached the spot and started an investigation. However, the police were not convinced with the sequence of events narrated by the security guard.

Sources said the house of the security guard was near the ATM booth and maybe he was not present when the incident occurred.

DSP (Headquarters) Sultan Singh said, “The images of two men, with their faces covered, were captured in one of the cameras before they used the spray. The CCTV footage of nearby areas is also being examined to get further clues. The claims of the security guard are being verified.”

A case has been registered under Sections 457, 380 and 427 of the IPC at the Ambala City police station.