Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 12

Thieves targeted the ATM of the State Bank of India (SBI) at Swaddi Kalan, near Jagraon, and decamped with Rs 9.74 lakh. Thieves used gas cutter to steal cash from the ATM.

The ATM is situated outside the bank.

As per the information, the incident occurred at around 2.30 am on Friday. Two thieves came and they first cut the main shutter of the ATM kiosk. Then they entered inside the kiosk and again used gas cutter to steal cash from the ATM.

Thieves were captured in the CCTV cameras installed inside the ATM kiosk for a few seconds only because they sprayed some black chemical on the cameras.

Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana rural, Balwinder Singh said after coming to know about the incident, the Jagraon police reached the spot early this morning.

The SP said police teams are also conducting raids on some suspected places to nab the suspects. Even the CCTV cameras of the nearby localities are being checked to get clues about the thieves.

A case under was registered against the unknown thieves at the Jagraon police station.

Bank manager Pankaj Kumar Pandey said earlier also thieves had made an attempt to steal cash from the ATM but they had to flee after some passersby had raised alarm.

Lal Singh, sarpanch, Swaddi Kalan, said the police should increase patrolling in the areas to prevent such incidents in future.