Lucknow: Cash van guard shot dead near Governor House; Rs 6L looted

An armed miscreant shot dead the van guard of a private cash collection agency, injured its officer and looted Rs 6.44 lakh from the van in the high security zone just opposite Raj Bhawan Colony in Lucknow on Monday evening, police said.

The crime spot is just outside the residence of state law minister Brajesh Pathak that is a few metres away from the Governor House.

A passer-by scuffled with miscreant briefly in a bid to nab him but he managed to escape on a motorcycle brandishing a firearm.

The deceased has been identified as Indra Mohan of Securitrans India Private Limited (SIPL). The injured is cash officer Umesh Sharma. However, Ram Sewak, driver of the van, escaped unhurt.

SIPL collects cash from businessmen across the city and deposits it in their bank accounts, for a fee.

Police said at around 3.50pm, the SIPL van (Bolero) reached Raj Bhawan Colony after collecting cash from Krishna Nagar, which was the last collection point. The van was carrying around Rs 1 crore cash.

Driver Ram Sewak parked the vehicle in the service lane, adjacent to the colony and alongside the wall of the law minister’s house, police said and added: Sharma got down from the vehicle with bags carrying Rs 45 lakh, crossed the road and went to Axis Bank where he deposited the cash.

Driver Ram Sewak went along with Sharma, while guard Indra Mohan stayed back in the van.

When Sharma returned, he saw that an armed miscreant had fired a gun shot at Indra Mohan, who was bleeding profusely, and the assailant was fleeing with two cash bags. The

miscreant also fired one gunshot on Sharma’s leg when he tried to snatch the bag from him. In the scuffle, the miscreant dropped one cash bag.

Undeterred by the gunshot, Sharma kept on chasing the miscreant, who was moving towards his motorcycle parked outside Axis Bank.

Meanwhile, Prabhakar Pandey, who was passing from there in a Bolero, asked his driver to stop the vehicle.

Pandey saw Sharma running behind the miscreant, who by then had reached his motorcycle. When Pandey tried to nab the miscreant, he pointed his gun at him. In the scuffle, the miscreant dropped the gun on the road. However, the miscreant took out another gun, which was tucked in his belly, and pointed it towards Pandey and Sharma. Brandishing the firearm, the miscreant fled from the spot on his motorcycle (UP 32 GK 7022) towards Vikramaditya Marg with one cash bag that had around Rs 6.44 lakh.

Cops rushed Indra Mohan and Sharma to the Civil Hospital where doctors declared Indira Mohan dead. After first aid, doctors referred Sharma to the Trauma Centre, KGMU.

While the high drama was on, hundreds of passersby remained mute spectators.

Additional director general of police (law and order) Anand Kumar was the first person to reach the spot as he stays in Raj Bhawan Colony. Director general of police OP Singh also reached the spot.

“Several police teams are tracking the miscreant. He will be arrested soon,” said Kalanidhi Naithani, senior superintendent of police.

First Published: Jul 31, 2018 12:58 IST