The unclaimed SUV seized by Dehradun Police from Vikasnagar area on Sunday night while they were conducting a vehicle drive, belongs to the members of Rahul Khatta gang, informed police. This gang has earned notoriety in looting banks and had looted a bank in Udham Singh Nagar around three months back. The case is yet to be cracked.
They are also allegedly involved in a bank heist in Meerut that occurred on January 10. Police are of the view that the SUV impounded from Vikasnagar was used in the Meerut bank robbery case.
State Director General of Police BS Sidhu disclosed the possible connection between the robbery and the seized car on Tuesday. Moreover, gangster Amit Malik Bhura, a fugitive who gave police a slip in Baghpat on December 15 was instrumental in the loot of around Rs3.5 crore. This had happened three days after he had escaped from the custody of Delhi police in 2010. Bhura gang is also adept in the ‘art’ of looting banks.
Taking note of it, an advisory has been issued to the bank officials through district police heads that bank officials should take precautionary measures while transporting cashes from head branch to banks or ATMs, Sidhu added.
Investigation revealed that the SUV had been looted by some unidentified persons in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) on January 5. According to police, this vehicle could possibly have been used in the Meerut heist case. Two other vehicles had also been looted on January 10 in Mathura. The owner of the SUV has been identified. Records said he had purchased it in April 2014. Police are probing the case from all angles, he added.
Apprehending that the Khatta gang members may embark on bank looting in the State, police have issued an advisory to the bank officials to put extra vigil when they are transporting cash during inter-bank transition or depositing cash in its ATMs, Sidhu said. The Bank officials were directed that cashes should be transported by vehicles escorted armed police. The bank officials should avoid transporting large sum of cashes at one time. Things should be staggered in phases.