In a major breakthrough, the district police have arrested nine members of a gang, which attempted to burgle at least four banks and a sub post office, looted cash in petrol bunks and decamped with liquor bottles from Tasmac shops in the district.
As there has been a spurt in burglary attempts and looting of Tasmac shops, Sivaganga Superintendent of Police M. Durai, who is in-charge of Ramanathapuram, formed special teams and directly supervised the investigation. During a vehicle check at the cyclone shelter near here on Friday night, a special team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police R. Annamalai Azhawar and comprising Inspectors Murugan, Rajkumar and Samuel, intercepted a car and arrested the gang members, all in the age group of 21 to 29 years.
The police seized the car and two two-wheelers used by the gang members for committing crimes. Interrogation revealed that they indulged in crimes to make quick money and lead a lavish life, the police said.
They were produced before a Magistrate here on Saturday, who remanded them in judicial custody.
The gang members made a vain bid to burgle Bank of India (BOI) branch at Vani near here on May 14.
They gained entry into the bank but could not break open the locker, despite carrying a welding machine. Jewels weighing 500 sovereigns and Rs. 12 lakh in cash had been kept in the locker. The same gang attempted to burgle a sub post office at Devipattinam last week, the police added.
Their modus operandi was that they would identity the bank branches, petrol bunks and Tasmac shops while moving around in a car during daytime and target them at night, the police said. They were returning after ‘inspecting’ some targets in Sivaganga district when the police arrested them.
The police said V. Thangapandi of Sitharkottai had acted as the leader of the gang, which included a graduate. .
Assistant Superintendent of Police G. Sunga Singh also assisted the investigation, the police added.
