Meet the man who foiled Monday’s robbery bid

Maharaj Krishan Kapoor (75), who fought a robber at Central Bank of India’s Kalkaji branch a day ago, now fears for his life.

Maharaj Krishan Kapoor (75), who fought a robber at Central Bank of India’s Kalkaji branch a day ago, now fears for his life.

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Bouquets and congratulatory phone calls have not stopped coming since Tuesday morning.

Kapoor, who retired as a technical assistant fromthe zoology department of Deshbandhu College had gone to the bank on Monday to renew his passbook when he thwarted the robber’s attempt, almost single-handedly.

“Though I fought the robber, now I am concerned about my safety. At that point of time my only intention was to save the
manager. I was standing at one of the counters when I heard a gunshot. I rushed inside and grabbed him from behind, he even told me that he respected my age and does not want to extend any harm to me. Now I fear the other gang members would attack me,” said M.K. Kapoor.

Kapoor said this was not the first time that he had helped people.

“During the Mandal commission row in 1992, I saved the principal of my college who was being beaten up by police then,” said Kapoor.

The brave septuagenarian was born in Pakistan and he shifted to the city in 1947 along with his family.

“When I was young, we used to practice wrestling at the backyard of our house. I have always helped people. This was nothing new for me,” said Kapoor. He said he even chased the robber outside the gates of the bank.

The bank staff said they owed their life to the old man.

“Had it not been for him. We would have been killed. We will felicitate him on January 9,” said manager P.C. Bairwa.

Meanwhile the bank officials posted a 60-year-old guard armed with an obsolete double barrel gun at the gates of the bank.

“I was posted at the Malviya Nagar branch of the bank. I was told by my seniors that I am being sent to this branch for two days,” said Mahendra Singh, the security guard.