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| J&K Bank robbed in Kishtwar, over Rs 1 Crore loss estimated | | | Early Times Report
Kishtwar, July 8: While Police and Bank officials are still verifying the facts and ledgers to tabulate the actual loss, a variety of factors including an insider’s hand and carelessness offered a clear opportunity to smart and well trained hi-tech robbers to loot a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank here. The Bank officials are yet to confirm but conflicting versions of close door calculations suggest that robbers walked away with anything between Rs 80 lakh to 150 lakhs. “We are yet to ascertain the actual loss as Police have taken over the premises for investigation”.
The Branch of J&K Bank was fitted with Close Circuit Television Cameras and, interestingly, robbers knew it. The burglars entered the Chest room after taking out an exhaust fan and then cut apart the CCTV cables to escape any recording.
The Bank is situated in the heart of the town with local police station on one side at a distance of around 100 meters and a CRPF bunker on the other side. Official residence of some senior officers from the district administration is also situated on the opposite side of the branch. The building, owned by local National Conference MLA Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, also houses some other offices, a hotel and shops. A team of scientist experts from Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) Jammu were rushed to the spot to help the local police in investigation. All the bank employees were detained by the police for questioning while their mobile phones have been seized.
Giving details, sources said that peon of the bank noticed locks of the main gate broken when he came to open the office, this morning. He immediately informed his superiors who rushed to the spot and informed the police.
Senior police officers rushed to the spot and seized the bank building and asked the staff members to remain away from the office till forensic experts reach the spot. A team of forensic experts were rushed to Kishtwar from Jammu to assist the police in investigation. Insiders told this correspondent that two cans of patrol were found on the spot which clearly indicates that the burglars had intention to set the building on fire. The police also seized two iron rods, one hexa blade, two nylon ropes from the spot.
The investigation, conducted so far, clearly points out fingers at the involvement of some bank officials in the burglary, sources said adding the bank staff and manager of the hotel were detained by the police for questioning. They were released in the evening but their mobile phones were seized for scrutiny. Police sources said that the burglars have reached the main hall of the bank after breaking the lock of main shutter. After disconnecting the CCTV cable, the burglars have detached the exhaust fan on the outer wall of the Chest.
“The huge exhaust fan weigh around one quintal and has been very technically detached”, sources said adding, “Two ropes have been used to lift the fan and it clear that more than three persons were involved”.
They said while the thieves have not touched the main locker, cash kept in a trunk has been stolen. “The initial calculation reveals that Rs 1.08 crores was kept in the trunk”, they said adding, “The notes are in the denomination of Rs 20, Rs 50 and Rs 100 as the larger denomination notes were kept in the main locker”.
The involvement of some bank official is also clear from the fact that the thieves knew that a new cash has arrived in the bank two days back and a huge cash was lying in the trunk. When contacted the district SP Dr Haseeb Mughal said that the investigation was at the preliminary stage as such nothing can be commented. However, he said that the burglars are more than one person and there is a clearly involvement of some insiders.
“We are questioning the concerned persons”, he said adding, “Evidences taken by the FSL team is an important link and we are working in a close coordination so as to solve the mystery”.
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