Two men on a bike decamped with cash worth ₹19 lakh after allegedly throwing chilli powder into the eyes of two custodians of a cash management company, and shooting at one of them, outside an ATM in Rohini here on Friday afternoon.
According to the police, the armed robbery took place around 2.15 p.m. when the cash van arrived at a Union Bank ATM in Rohini’s Sector 24.
In the van were the driver, a guard, and two custodians.
Eyewitnesses told the police that the assailants arrived at the spot just when the two custodians stepped out of the cash van. “The assailants first threw chilli powder at their faces. Then one of them pulled out a pistol and aimed it at the custodians, while the other began taking out the cash bags. When one custodian, Naveen, took out his gun, the accused shot at his face. As he collapsed, the duo fled with the cash,” said a senior police officer.
The guard also fired two shots at the assailants, but missed the target.
Injured in hospital
Naveen was taken to hospital and is responding to treatment. “The injured is not in a position to record his statement as he has a bullet wound on his face. We have approached the bank to ascertain how much cash was in the van and how much the assailants took away,” the officer said.
According to the police, six special teams have been formed to look into the case. The police are also trying to gather clues, including CCTV footage, to identify the accused.
A case of robbery and attempt to murder has been registered against the accused, who have also been booked under the Arms Act. Police sources say that an insider is likely to be involved in the case.
Incidentally, the guard who fired at the accused had been recruited just four days ago. His shots missed the target despite the close range, said sources close to the investigation. They added that he was under the scanner.
Another case reported
In another incident, two bike-borne assailants allegedly snatched a bag containing ₹10 lakh from two men in outer Delhi’s Meera Bagh on Friday.
The men, who are employees of a company, were on their way to deposit the cash in a bank. They told the police that the assailants pushed them to the ground and snatched the bag. “They said they were on their way to the bank when a bike intercepted then. They alleged that while one man pushed them, the other snatched the bag,” a senior police officer said.
