Hyderabad: Two held for Kukatpally ATM robbery, killing guard

HYDERABAD: Cyberabad police arrested the two accused in the sensational armed robbery at HDFC bank ATM in Kukatpally on April 29. A 74-year-old security guard was shot dead by the offenders during the daylight robbery, and with their arrest, the police solved five cases in the city. Before committing the robbery, the accused tested the weapon at Dundigal forest area.
The accused have been identified as Ajeet Kumar, 23, a labour contractor at a packaging company in Dundigal, and Mukesh Kumar, 21, from Gandimysamma in Dundigal.
The duo followed the ATM cash loading van of Writer Safeguard company on April 29 on a stolen bike, and tried to loot the cash when the staff stopped the vehicle at HDFC bank’s ATM in Vijaya Nagar in Kukatpally to load Rs 12 lakh in the ATM.
The security guard of the company, Ali Baig, stood in front of the ATM centre while cash loading officer, Naveen and ATM officer Srinivas entered the ATM centre. Ajeet and Mukesh got down from the bike and went to the ATM centre. “Ali Baig tried stopping them, and when the accused pointed the gun at him, he tried to snatch it and the accused shot him. Naveen and Srinivas then tried to stop the accused but the offenders fired at Srinivas, causing a leg injury,” Cyberabad commissioner VC Sajjanar said.
In the scuffle, Ajeet’s helmet fell down and he rushed towards the bike, while instructing, Mukesh to grab a cash bundle from inside the ATM. Mukesh picked up Rs 5 lakh cash bundle and the duo escaped on the bike towards Usha Mullapudi Kaman, the commissioner said.
Baig succumbed to bullet injury at a local hospital. The police zeroed in on the suspects through CCTV footage and cell phone analysis. Police identified that the same suspects had committed another armed robbery at Lakshmi Money Transfer services in Quthbullapur on April 16 and had stolen Rs 1.95 lakh cash and a cellphone of the manager by threatening him with pistol.
After the robbery, they took shelter at a friend’s house in Toopran for two days and returned to their room in Gandimysamma on April 18. Subsequently they stole two bikes at Dundigal, Keesara and used one of the bikes to commit the robber at Kukatpally on April 29.
The duo parked the bike at a temple in Medchal and walked to their room. The police arrested the duo from their room and recovered Rs 6.3 lakh cash, a country-made fire arm, a live round and an empty magazine.