After bank, armed men strike cash van, flee with Rs 16 lakh

The incident was reported around 10 am, and police said the assailants made away with two bags containing Rs 16.78 lakh cash. While escaping, they opened fire and left one of the guards injured.

The incident comes a day after armed robbers had struck at a bank in Outer Delhi and made away with Rs 24 lakh. And eight days after a similar robbery at UCO Bank in South Delhi’s Hauz Khas area.

In all three cases, the robbers arrived in motorbikes — the police it was a Pulsar bike in today’s incident — and appeared to have planned in advance.

According to police, the security guards Uttam Bahadur and Ratnesh were carrying cash in two bags and one suitcase from their office — AP Securitas, at 117-Satya Niketan — to the armoured van waiting close by, on Ring Road. The money was to be deposited to ATMs of HDFC and Standard Chartered banks, the police said.

The two had reached the service lane next to Ring Road when the assailants, who arrived on two bikes, stopped them. A police officer said the robbers opened fire the moment the Uttam and Ratnesh resisted their attempts to snatch the bag. A bullet hit Uttam was hit on his thigh, and the robbers took the opportunity to speed away with two of the three bags, the officer said.

The police said the assailants fired six rounds; two bullets hit a Santro car (HR 06 H 9625) parked in the area.

Uttam was sent to AIIMS. RK Puram police have registered a case and confiscated the Santro.

Several local residents told Newsline that they saw the men speeding away on their bikes when they came out after hearing gunshots.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said it is not possible to say at the moment whether the same gang could be involved in all three robberies. He added that the police have issued an advisory to all banks: “We have advised banks to make proper security arrangements and asked security companies to arm their guards while transporting cash. Their guards were not carrying any weapon.”

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