Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Nov 23: Robbers looted over Rs 34 lakh from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Bank branch in Sarthal area and also made a vain attempt in another branch of the Bank at Nawapachi area of the district overnight.
As per police sources, burglars barged into the J&K Bank branch set up in a rented accommodation at Sarthal and looted Rs 34,30,987 including around Rs 20 lakh new currency, which had arrived in the bank yesterday.
Some locals spotted the lock of main shutter of the bank open and informed the Bank Manager, who immediately sounded the police this morning.
The burglars looted Rs 17,88,000 in the denomination of Rs 2000 (fresh currency), Rs 7,02,000 in Rs 1000 denomination, Rs 6,39,000 in Rs 500 denomination, Rs 2,01,700 in Rs 100 and Rs 50 denomination, Rs 1,00,000 in Rs 20 denomination, Rs 230 in Rs 10, Rs 5 and Rs 2 denomination.
During preliminary inquiry, it came to fore that the there was no security guard on duty at the time of theft and no CCTV camera had been installed in the bank, sources said, adding that the thieves entered the bank from Manager’s cabin and opened the locker with the keys, which the officials had left in the bank yesterday.
“Non-installation of CCTV camera in the bank may create difficulties for the police to trace-out the thieves”, sources said, adding that some bank officials might be involved in the theft and police is also questioning them as the keys of the lockers were left in the bank. The questioning of the people living in the areas surrounding the bank is also going on, sources informed.
“How is it possible that the employees had left the keys of the lockers in the bank and how the thieves were aware about the position of the keys remain million dollar questions?”, sources said.
A case in this regard has been registered at Kishtwar police station and manhunt has been launched to nab the thieves.
Meanwhile, unidentified persons entered the J&K Bank branch at Nawapachi and tried to loot the cash but failed. They also ransacked the bank’s infrastructure.
After getting information, bank officials and police team reached the spot. All the cash kept in the bank was found intact.
A case in this regard has been registered at Nawapachi police station and investigation started.
It is pertinent to mention here that only yesterday the Central Government had asked the State Government to provide security to J&K Bank and its ATMs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel