Men who robbed ₹16L at gunpoint took train to flee

Cash belonging to the Railways was robbed at gunpoint after four unidentified persons accosted the car in which the cash was being carried on Wednesday afternoon.

The suspects involved in a daring gunpoint robbery of a bag containing ₹16.58 lakh in Mankhurd on Wednesday took a suburban train to flee.

The suspects involved in a daring gunpoint robbery of a bag containing ₹16.58 lakh in Mankhurd on Wednesday took a suburban train to flee. (Ht file)

In an incident, which took place in broad daylight, the cash belonging to the Railways was robbed at gunpoint after four unidentified persons accosted the car in which the cash was being carried on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3.45pm at the service road in Dhobighat area towards the Mankhurd railway station.

Police scanned CCTV footages, which have revealed that the suspects took a train at Govandi railway station on the harbour railway towards Panvel.

Police are probing if the accused escaped to outstation by taking a long-distance train from Panvel. Investigating officials also recovered the car, an Alto, used in the crime that was left abandoned near Govandi railway station. “Various teams have fanned out for investigations and we are working out on clues,” said a police officer privy to the investigation. The crime branch is conducting a parallel probe in this regard.

The CCTV footages have also revealed that the accused conducted reconnaissance for days before striking on Wednesday. Police sources stated that they are yet to identify the suspects.

According to the police, a driver, manager and one security guard of a private agency took the cash from the ticket counter of Mankhurd railway station and were headed for depositing it when four unidentified persons accosted their car.

The accused brandished a sharp weapon and pointed a firearm at them. They then snatched the bag containing the cash and escaped in the Alto, which was found abandoned just hours later. Police are probing if any history-sheeters are involved in the crime. The car’s registration number was found to be fake. “We suspect the car may have been stolen,” said the officer.