Four held for robbing Amritsar bank manager of ₹38 lakh

The robbers threw chilli powder into manager’s eyes and snatched the cash bag near Naagkalan village on August 23

Police on Saturday arrested four persons for robbing ₹38 lakh from a bank manager after throwing chilli powder into his eyes at Naagkalan village, 15km from Amritsar on August 23.

The manager was on his way to deposit the cash in Gopal Nagar branch of Canara Bank in Amritsar in his private car. (HT PHOTO)

Those arrested have been identified as bank peon Davinder Singh of Pandoori Sukha Singh village, Sultan Singh of Isaipur, Palwinder Singh and Beant Singh of Jastarwal village. The fifth accused, Harpreet Singh, aka Captain, is yet to be arrested. Police have also recovered ₹30.8 lakh of the looted money, two Hyundai i-10 cars, two pistols used in the crime.

The incident took place when manager of Canara Bank’s Majitha branch Baljit Singh was on his way to deposit ₹38 lakh in the bank’s Gopal Nagar branch in Amritsar in his private car. Peon Davinder was also accompanying him.

Police said armed assailants followed Baljit’s car in two vehicles and one of the vehicles overtook the victim’s car near Naagkalan and blocked the way. They smashed the windowpane of the driver’s side and threw chilli powder into the manager’s eyes before snatching the bag containing cash.

Addressing a press conference, inspector general (IG), border range, Amritsar, Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said SSP rural Parampal Singh constituted teams comprising SP headquarters Harpal Singh, DSP Gurpartap Singh Sahota and crime investigation agency (CIA) of Amritsar rural to crack the case.

During investigation, police found that the robbery was planned by the peon. “At the instance of Davinder, we arrested the other accused from their homes and also seized ₹30.8 lakh of the ₹38 lakh looted. Police also seized a .32-bore pistol from Sultan, .315-bore pistol from from Davinder and .12-bore rifle from Palwinder,” said the IG.

“After presenting the accused in a local court, we will take their police remand. More recoveries are expected,” he said.

A case under Section 379 B (snatching) of the IPC and 25-54-59 of Arms Act had already been registered against the accused in Majitha police station.