A police team has been sent to Hyderabad to arrest the accused in the Bidar ATM robbery and murder case, ADGP Harishekaran said.

An intelligence team is collecting evidence from the scene where two bike-borne robbers made off with a cash box containing Rs 93 lakh after they opened fire on two ATM refilling agents in Bidar on Thursday. | Photo Credit: GOPICHAND T.

Additional Director General of Police (Crime) P. Harishekaran said a team was sent to Hyderabad to arrest two suspects involved in the killing of ATM staff and theft of Rs 93 lakh in Bidar on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the Superintendent of Police in Bidar on Friday after visiting the scene of the incident in front of the State Bank of India head office at Chhatrapati Shivaji Circle in the city, Mr. Harishekaran said the Bidar police had formed eight teams to nab the criminals.

“Police officers from our Crime Department and teams have been formed to arrest criminals and work together. They worked on the Call Detail Record (CDR) and CCTV footage to trace the movement of the robbers. Maharashtra and Telangana police have cooperated with us to investigate the case. The case is about to be solved. Our team has been sent to Hyderabad to arrest the criminals,” said Mr. Harishekaran. He went on to say that the police have collected information about the involvement of the perpetrators in similar cases in the past.

“Maharashtra and Telangana police are cooperating with us in this case. We formed eight teams to arrest the criminals who shot and killed cashiers and took the cash. Teams have been sent to Kalaburagi and Hyderabad. Two of the accused were planning to book tickets for a trip to Hyderabad. Members of our team were in a travel agency monitoring the movement of the suspects. However, the defendant started to suspect and opened fire at the manager of the travel company,” said Mr. Harishekaran.

P. Harishekaran Photo Credit: File Photo

To a question, the police officer said that the operation to nab the criminals is going on in collaboration with the Hyderabad police and expressed confidence that they will be nabbed soon. Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Ajay Hilory was present.

Family compensation

Meanwhile, Forest Minister and Bidar in-charge Eshwara Khandre and Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan visited the area and got information about the progress of the investigation from the police. “The investigation is still ongoing. I have instructed the police to arrest the culprits and bring them to court as soon as possible,” Mr Khandre told the media.

Mr. Khandre also met the family members of Giri Venkatesh, the security guards who were killed by the criminals, and consoled them.

“Giri Venkatesh put his life on the line while doing his duty to protect public money. The Government will extend all possible assistance to the kith and kin. I have already discussed this with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and requested him to sanction Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased. We are also looking at whether it is possible to employ a member of the deceased’s family in the Ministry of Social Affairs on a contract,” said Mr Khandre.