Gujarat: Kutch strongroom theft still a mystery

RAJKOT: Even three weeks after thieves broke into a government strongroom and stole cash and ornaments in Anjar town of Kutch, the police are completely clueless as to who committed the theft in this highly secure room. On August 4 thieves opened two locks, each weighing five kilos, of the strong-room using a masterkey and decamped with box containing Rs 23.56 lakh in cash and another containing 136 pieces of silver ornaments.
The cash was deposited by the local regional transport office (RTO), while one kg of silver was deposited by the mamlatdar office on the evening of August 4. The theft happened on the same night. “Investigation is on, but we are yet to get any clues,” said Mukesh Chaudhary, deputy superintendent of police, Anjar.
He said a departmental inquiry has already been initiated against three people guarding the strongroom that is located in an isolated place behind the SDM office. The box containing cash was also opened using a duplicate key while that containing the silver was opened after breaking its seal. The strongrooms of government treasury offices are considered to be the safest from thefts.
But, the thieves who managed to steal cash and ornaments from one such room in Anjar town of Kutch district, also carted the two heavy locks with them as trophies!
Treasury officer Darshana Vaidh and senior clerk Amrutlal Bambhaniya had locked the room at around 5:10pm on August 4 before leaving for home. Vaidh and Bambhaniya have one key each of the two locks. Vaidh discovered the theft the next morning. Incidentally, there are no CCTV cameras in the strong-room.
As per the procedure, the RTO deposits the cash collected as penalty with the treasury office daily and the cash is deposited in the bank the next day. Despite roping in forensic experts, dog squad and other agencies, the thieves still remain at large.