nIn a major success, Bemetara police with the help of locals solved the robbery of Rs 1.64 crore from a cash van within a few hours of the crime and nabbed the robbers with public support on Saturday, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police DM Awasthi said.
All four perpetrators have been arrested, however, of the looted amount only Rs 80 lakh was recovered from them, the DGP told media persons.
The arrested robbers were identified as Amit (27), Kuldeep Mallick (27), Rinku Hooda alias Jashwant (30), Sonu Hooda alias Sanjeet (27), all natives of Haryana.
“Around 12 noon a cash van of the SBI left from SBI Bemetara on its way to Navagarh. About 13 km away from the branch, four persons in a Honda City car intercepted the van and took away Rs 1.64 crore in cash kept in the van after threatening drivers and guards ,” the DGP said.
Following the loot, searching at all checkpoints and entry-exit points was intensified and information about the robbery and suspects was flashed in the Whatsapp groups of ‘Janmitra’- the network of locals created by SP Bemetara, the DGP mentioned.
Alert villagers spotted the suspected car passing through Baghul village and tried to stop them. The robbers opened fired to deter the villagers, but they (villagers) pelted stones and nabbed them, the DGP said while adding three of the accused robbers were injured in the action and are currently getting medical support.