PANAJI
A taxi operator is among three persons arrested and two others are on a run in a bizarre bank robbery in Sanquelim. The police are however investigating "all angles" into the case.
Jitendra Kumar and Raju Kumar Das, both daily wagers and residents of Goa Velha; and taxi operator Sahil Khan alias Niyaz from Sattari who is believed to be the mastermind behind the filmy-style daring bank heist were arrested after a massive hunt by the North Goa Police.
SBI Querim Bank Manager Sunil Pachanekar was held hostage by unknown persons, who not only criminally restrained him but also held him at gunpoint to execute the planned robbery.
The 36-year-old Mumbai native was targeted while he was on his two-wheeler to proceed to his home in Caranzalem.
“They caught the Bank Manager when he was near his two-wheeler to return to his home in Caranzalem. Thereafter some masked men forcibly took him in a WagonR Car bearing registration number GA-01-R-7724 to various destinations at Sanquelim. They then forced the victim to open the main shutter of the SBI Querim Branch and unlock their safe vault”, Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh said at a press conference held in police headquarters on Friday evening. The victim was held hostage from 8:30 pm on September 13 to 8:30 am on September 14.
The victim, the officer added, was mentally tortured and asked to call the cashier to open the bank and the lockers.
As he quoted the complaint letter, Singh further said that the accused stole away cash of Rs 10 lakh approximately in different denominations and 6 pouches containing gold belonging to customers. The victim was then dumped in Old Goa where he approached the local police station to narrate the incident.
Singh said that technical surveillance and human intelligence led them to trace the accused. Eight teams were formed to crack the case. Two accused are still at large.
Das was the first to be arrested by the Railway police while he was about to board the Vasco-Patna train, the other two were arrested after his confessions. "Niyaz planned the robbery because he was in desperate need of money. He also lived close to the bank which made his work easier," he said.
The police are also open to investigating all angles into the matter considering the fact that security cameras do not show 'forced abduction', 'forced entry' or 'visible crime scene.' The IGP admitted the Bank did not deploy armed security personnel.
"He was mentally tortured but we are investigating all the angles," he said.
The investigation teams have recovered 1,100 gms of gold amounting to Rs 50 lakh, Rs 5.50 lakh cash, an air gun, a knife, and the car used for the crime.
The Bicholim Police Station has registered an offence under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 364-A (kidnapping/abducting and threatening to hurt or kill), 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 380 (theft), 395 (dacoity), 397 (Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 506(ii) (threatening with dire consequences) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3 and 27 of Arms Act against the accused, who will be produced before the local court for police remand.
