PANJIM: The Goa Police have cracked the Keri branch State Bank of India (SBI) kidnapping and robbery case within 24 hours and arrested three of the five accused involved in the crime.
The police have managed to recover most of the robbed cash and gold from the accused.
In a press briefing, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Omvir Singh Bishnoi informed that the branch manager of the SBI Keri branch had lodged a written complaint with the Bicholim Police that while he was going home on his two-wheeler on September 13, he was reportedly abducted by five persons.
He claimed that he was mentally tortured and asked to open the locker rooms and remove the gold and cash at gun point after being allegedly tortured all night. Eight teams of police from both the districts gathered technical and local intelligence and managed to arrest Raju Kumar, Jitendar Kumar and Sahil Khan, who is the mastermind of the heist. Two more accused are still at large.
The police have recovered 1,100 grams of gold and Rs 5.49 lakh from the accused.
The police have recovered a knife, a gun and a four-wheeler that was used for commission of crime.
Surprisingly, even as the police have given instructions of having armed guards as security, the banks the Inspector General of Police said that the banks are not following the instructions. There was no armed guard at this particular branch as well.
Adding to this, the police have informed that though there are CCTV cameras in the bank there is no indication of forceful abduction or forceful robbery that is noticed. When questioned regarding the role of the branch manager, the IGP said that the police are investigating the case from all angles and is too early to say that.
The police have booked a case against all the accused under relevant Sections of abduction, robbery and kidnapping for ransom.
The IGP has assured to reward the team involved in cracking the case.
