Dhenkanal: Police have arrested four inter-state ATM looters involved in the loot and burning of an SBI ATM near Panchubati in Dhenkanal district.
The accused were identified as Rafiq Khan (35), Aslam MD (35), Saddam Majjid (32), and MD Nasir (45). Rafiq and Saddam are residents of Rajasthan, while the other two belong to Haryana, according to Dhenkanal SP Abhinav Sonkar.
Police seized over Rs 8 lakh in cash, six mobile phones, a gas cutter machine, various ID cards, ATM cards, a Maruti Suzuki Ritz car, and a tripper. On January 9, at around 3:00 AM, police received a tip that unknown culprits had entered the SBI ATM near Panchubati Petrol pump and set the machine on fire.
Acting on this information, all police stations in Dhenkanal district bordering neighbouring districts were put on alert, and checkpoints were set up. On the same night, a Maruti Suzuki Ritz car was stopped near Gudiakateni of Hindol road outpost under Motanga Police Station. Although a few suspected accused fled, one person was apprehended.
During interrogation, the accused, identified as Rafiq Khan (35), confessed to the crime and revealed that they had transferred the stolen cash to another vehicle headed to Mumbai. Following the direction of SP Dhenkanal, two special teams were formed to apprehend the vehicle and the other accused persons.
The other two accused, Saddam Majid Hussain (32) and Md. Nasir (45), were caught along with the vehicle bearing registration number RJ 02 68 4871. Upon searching the vehicle, cash in various denominations and other articles were found. During the investigation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the case.
