Security guard at ATM found murdered

A security guard at an ATM in Ghansoli was brutally murdered late Wednesday night by a suspect who then unsuccessfully tried to break open the ATM machine. Police say they had some leads in the case and have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information on the suspect.

A security guard at an ATM in Ghansoli was brutally murdered late Wednesday night by a suspect who then unsuccessfully tried to break open the ATM machine. Police say they had some leads in the case and have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information on the suspect.

HT Image

The incident occurred late Wednesday night at the Abhyudaya Bank ATM located opposite Ghansoli railway station. The police were informed around 5.50 am that Suryakant Mahadik, 66, was lying dead inside the ATM cabin.

The CCTV footage of the ATM cabin around 10.52 pm reveals that Mahadik was inside when a youth, his face covered with a helmet, entered.

Mahadik then walked out even as the suspect took out his wallet apparently to remove his ATM card. As Mahadik wandered out, the suspect acted as if he was operating the ATM machine and then walked out of the cabin.

According to deputy commissioner of police Purshottam Karad, “The suspect returned around 10 minutes later still wearing the helmet. The CCTV footage shows Mahadik asking him to remove the helmet and then asked him to leave when he refused to take it off.”

Karad said, “The suspect then attacked him with a knife that was a foot long. He first hit Mahadik on his hands and then on his head as he tried to defend himself. The man continued to attack Mahadik even after he had fallen down. There were 31 injury marks on Mahadik’s body.”

The suspect then attempted to break open the ATM machine and when, after several attempts, he could not break it, he smashed the CCTV camera and left his helmet behind.

Mahadik’s body was found early morning, by one Sohail Khan, the owner of a gym located close by.

Police said a team of the security agency that had deployed Mahadik, a month ago, had conducted an inspection around 10 pm and should have returned in the night as well, but it went to Taloja.

A security guard at a nearby HDFC ATM says that he did not hear anything as it was raining heavily at the time.

The security company and bank officials did not make any comment on the issue.

The police dog squad pressed into action did not find much as the rain seemed to have washed away all scent of the suspect.