3 vandalise ATMs, meet with accident during police chase

Two arrested, third admitted to hospital after mishap

Three students of hotel management went on a rampage late on Sunday, vandalising three ATM centres in Hadapsar area. As fate would have it, they met with an accident in which one of the students was injured. The police have arrested two of them — Nakul Gangadhar Lonkar (21) and Sandesh Kamlesh Rathod (22) — while the third youth, Pankaj Apparao Dhole, has been admitted to a hospital.

According to the police, Lonkar hails from Beed district, Rathod from Thane and Dhole from Osmanabad. All were currently residing at Ghule Park building in Mahadev Nagar, Hadapsar. Police said the three were students of a hotel management college in Hadapsar.

Around 11 pm, the trio on two motorcycles arrived at the Union Bank ATM at Ravidarshan building, the police said. Senior inspector Pandharinath Mandhare said Lonkar withdrew money using his card. However, later the youths allegedly ransacked the ATM centre and pelted stones at it. They also attempted to tamper with the ATM and broke its monitor, he said.

Later, the trio went to ATMs of Axis Bank and ICICI Bank on Manjari Road. There, too, they allegedly pelted stones and broke the glass doors. On hearing the commotion, some residents of the area woke up and informed the police. Soon, a night patrolling team started chasing the three.

Meanwhile, Pankaj's motorcycle skidded and he fell down. The police then nabbed Nakul and Sandesh and admitted Pankaj to a hospital for treatment.

The bank officials lodged the police complaint on Monday. As per the complaint, the youths have caused damage to the tune of Rs 5 lakh.

Mandhare said they have sought CCTV footage from the damaged ATMs. There was no security guard at any of the three ATMs, he added. Sub inspector S S Chavan is investigating the case further.

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