GURUGRAM: An alert executive managed to save a branch of Muthoottu Mini
Gold Finance company, located on Old Railway Road, from a dacoity attempt in broad daylight. Noticing the six armed robbers, she pushed the emergency alarm button in time, which activated a bell, hearing which the robbers fled. The entire act was captured on CCTV footage.
Sources said the robbers escaped in a white
Mahindra Xylo. An FIR has been registered at New Colony police station. Police are now trying to identify the accused with the help of the CCTV footage.
The brave executive, Sonal Kataria, claimed the six robbers were posing as customers and threatened her first. She claimed one of them shot at her thrice on realising she was going to push the emergency alarm button, but police denied there was any shooting. A senior police officer said it might have been an airgun, which the accused used to create panic.
The
robbery attempt took place around 2.30pm on Wednesday. Six employees were present inside the office at the time, including three women. Security guard Gobind was at a counter near the entry. There was no customer present. Two armed men arrived posing as customers interested in a loan against gold. When guard Gobind asked only one of them to enter at a time, one of them held him hostage at gunpoint. Immediately, four others joined the two and one of them fired in the air to create panic.
“I was sitting at the front desk. Something in their looks bothered me, and I bent down to reach for the alarm button. One of the miscreants said in Haryanvi: “Button mat daba diyo (don’t push the button)”, but I managed to push it. Seeing this, they shot at me thrice, but luckily I escaped as I ran to hide in the restroom. By that time, the loud alarm had started attracting attention, with people nearby starting to gather, at which they fled. On the way, they shattered the glass entrance door of our branch,” said Kataria.
A police team led by DCP (crime) Sumit Khuhar and inspector
Ashok Kumar, SHO of New Colony police station, reached the spot. They questioned the staff and the guard for around an hour and collected the CCTV footage. Police said they are trying to identify two of the accused, who have been caught on cameras. An FIR was registered at New Colony police station under sections 392, 397 and 511 (robbery and attempt at robbery), 427 (causing damage) and sections 25, 54, 59 of Arms Act.
Security guard Gobind (46), from UP, who had joined the branch a day ago, said: “I was placed here by my employers, a private security agency, only yesterday.
“The agency also gave me the dress I’m wearing, but I was unarmed. When I said only one person is allowed at a time, one of them pointed a gun at me. In fear, I could not even protest.”
Police have formed two teams to conduct raids at places where the robbers are suspected to be hiding. “We’ve got some vital clues, but none of any shooting. We called in a
ballistics team, who are investigating this. The robbers arrived in a white Xylo with a fake MP registration plate. They had recced the branch at 12.55pm,” said Kuhar.
