Date:16/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/16/stories/2005051606750400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

13.34 lakhs stolen from bank in Guntakal

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Cash of Rs. 13.34 lakhs was stolen from the Guntakal branch of the Andhra Bank located in the early hours of Sunday.

According to the police, the miscreants gained entry into the premises by breaking open a ventilator on the rear side of the building. After switching off power, they broke open the doors of the locker room where the cash chest was kept.

They then broke open the chest and decamped with the booty. Interestingly, they did not touch lower denominations.

A total of Rs. 16.2 lakhs was kept in the chest after closure of transactions on Saturday.

The robbery came to light when an employee opened the branch in the morning to check the mail pertaining to a colleague's transfer orders. He immediately called the police.

The Guntakal DSP, K.V. Mohan Rao, the CI, Ramana Murthy, the SI, E. Srinivasulu, visited the bank.

The bank's AGM, Amarnath, also arrived from Kurnool. Sniffer dogs led the police till the Dharmavaram railway gate.

The police suspect that a three-member gang could have participated in the robbery.