The gang, which stuck at a jewellery workshop at Governorpet in the city on July 11 and decamped with over seven kg of gold, was reportedly headed by Mumbai robbers and had international links.
With the police receiving information that the dacoits are trying to flee to Sri Lanka, they have alerted the immigration authorities. Police teams have been deputed to ports and airports of neighbouring States.
The gang, which left Mumbai, reached Vijayawada through Telangana two days before committing the offence. They checked into different hotels, did a ‘recce’ at the jewellery workshop, and on the main roads for easy escape.
Four held
“Robbers from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and West Bengal formed into a group and planned the heist.
“The gang was headed by a notorious robber of Mumbai and all members carried weapons,” an investigation officer said.
Police teams, which were sent to Rameswaram, Pune, Tirunelveli, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other places, have reportedly picked up four accused involved in the dacoity and the investigation officers are questioning them.
“The gang conducted ‘recce’ on the main road before the dacoity, and the movement of the vehicle was observed in CCTV footage. They travelled to Guntur and Eluru and planned to escape on the highway. After the heist, the accused escaped on private lorries and by trains and travelled to Tamil Nadu,” City Police Commissioner D. Gautam Sawang said. The police have confirmed the role of some locals, who allegedly helped the gang in executing the plan and escaping.
Some locals noted the vehicle, abandoned by the gang after the dacoity, and the news published in the newspapers on the next day.
“We questioned many suspects in the case. It is not possible for an outsider to gain entry into the workshop, located in a small street, raid on it and escape.
“We have some clues and will crack the case soon,” Mr. Sawang told The Hindu.