Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 11
Manipur police on Saturday arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in a bid to loot an ATM booth in Imphal’s Palace Compound. Asem Rojit (29) son of late A Norendro Singh of Palace Compound and Seram Bikram (20) son of late S Boson of Pukhao Naharup presently residing at Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai are charged of attempting to loot the cash from the ATM booth on Friday night.
A Maruti van allegedly used by the burglars was also seized, the police said.
According to Imphal East SP Jogeshchandra Sanasam, the incident happened near Bheigo Mill, Palace Compound under Porompat police station of Imphal East district. The police came to know of the incident after personnel of a QRT (Quick Response Team) of the district police patrolled in the area in the wee hours of Saturday.
On seeing the ATM booth half open, the personnel went to inspect the booth which is opened only during the day time and found damaged the cash vending machine.
They further detected an LPG cylinder and one oxygen-cylinder along with a cutting torch inside the booth, following which the police came to a conclusion that unknown persons had attempted to break open the cash vending machine using a gas cutter.
They suspected that the miscreants left the place as they were not able to break open the cash vending machine and also due to the frequent movement of the police patrol party in the area.
On examining the CCTV footage, police came to know that the burglars did try to break open the machine for half an hour (from 12:50 am to 1:22 am) after breaking open the padlock of the shutter, said the police officer who took first hand stock of the incident on Saturday morning.
The general manager of SBI(RBO) who also arrived at the spot, however, confirmed that no cash was stolen from the ATM.
He also said that the ATM machine contained an amount of Rs 16,90,000 and the same amount was found untouched.
Police officer Sanasam claimed that the miscreants were unsuccessful in looting the ATM booth due to frequent police patrolling during the night. The two alleged burglars were arrested during investigation and they have admitted the commission of the crime, he added.
