The Delhi Police has arrested three women for allegedly robbing a 1971 war veteran of Rs 40,000 inside an ATM kiosk last week. The accused who were arrested from South Delhi are natives of Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh. Police said the women come to Delhi during festive and wedding seasons to rob people and their targets are mostly senior citizens.

According to Atul Kumar Thakur, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South Delhi, on October 3, a 76-year-old resident of Hauz Khas had lodged a complaint stating that he found out that Rs 40,000 had been stolen from his pocket while he was withdrawing money from the ATM.

"Two women had stepped into the ATM while he was withdrawing the money. In his statement, the complainant told police that he asked the two women to wait and stay out, but they didn't listen and entered the ATM. There was no guard available to help him and stop them," said the DCP.

"The man was helpless thinking that he cannot do anything more (them being women) to keep them outside and continued with my ATM transaction. During investigation, CCTV footage was analysed in which two women were noticed standing near the complainant," said the DCP.

"Meanwhile, another incident of jewellery theft was reported in Kotla Mubarakpur. One of the three accused was spotted during the analysis of CCTV footage of the incident. On Friday, police received a tip-off that the women would come to a park in Sector-5, Pushp Vihar, for division of the stolen money, following which they were arrested," said the DCP.

"During interrogation, the accused women revealed that they come to Delhi during festive and wedding seasons. They visit banks, ATMs, busy markets and crowded places to rob people. They stole money and jewellery and women and senior citizens were easy targets for them," said the DCP.

"The accused have confessed to their involvement in Hauz Khas and Kotla Mubarakpur cases. The stolen amount of Rs 40,000 has been recovered from the possession of the accused," the DCP added.