JOIN USKSRTC robbery bid: Ex-employee turns kingpin
Addressing media at N R Police station in the city, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal disclosed the names of four more apprehended in the case. They are; Sadiq Ahmed alias Fazil son of Abdul Jabbar, 30 years, Hanumantha Nagar, Akram alias ‘rider’ son of Pyarejaan, 26, Haleem Nagar, Altaf alias Arif, son of Nisar Ahmed, 30, Adamkhan Masjid compound, K R Mohalla and Balu alias ‘baali’, son of Nagaraju, 23 years, Ramamandira road, Kumbarakoppal. Prime accused in the case Tausif Khan alias Tausif had been handed over to N R police by alert KSRTC and Vijaya bank staff and public on November 8, when he tried to make away with cash box of ` 36.97 lakh near Vijaya Bank opposite to KSRTC Bus Depot in Bannimantap.
Though Tousif is the prime accused in the case, the brain behind the whole drama is Sadiq Ahmed. The Commissioner said, Sadiq had worked as a daily wager in the same depot for nearly two years. His father Abdul Jabbar still works as a security guard deployed by KSRTC at the depot. Sadiq and Akram had been to the same Vijaya Bank about 25 days ago to deposit a cheque of ` 2,000. It was at that time, while coming out of the bank Sadiq Ahmed saw cash box being taken inside the branch and somehow managed to elicit information from those staffers (KSRTC) about the process. The blueprint of the robbery was ready in Sadiq’s mind right there.
According to the plan, Tausif had to kill the staffer and jump on to a waiting motorbike after lifting the box, while two others had to give cover, helping them speed fast with the loot. Agarwal said, the cops will also summon Sadiq’s father Abdul Jabbar for questioning, besides checking his antecedents.
Initially, Tausif had tried to mislead the cops giving false information about the co-accused, thanks to the two teams led by Inspectors K N Yeshwanth Kumar (N R) and Jayakumar (CCB) who finally reached the remaining members of the gang. Tausif was produced before the court on Tuesday and has been remanded to six days police custody.
Two motorcycles having similar colour and one scooter have been recovered from them, apart from knives from each of the accused.
One more case solved
Among them, Sadiq and Akram confessed to have robbed a gas agency staffer in Vijayanagar police station’s limits a few months ago. While another accused Balu faces charges of murdering Palahalli Ravi and was released on bail from jail recently. Agarwal said, by taking the remaining accused in the case too, to police custody, we are hopeful of solving such cases, if any.
Talks on security
Replying to a query, Agarwal said he has spoken to Managing Director, KSRTC, Gaurav Gupta on providing armed security, if the authority intends to send a requisition.
Divisional controller, KSRTC (rural) Prakash said after the incident, they are transporting cash to the bank in a jeep from Tuesday. The jeep will move up to the place beside bank’s compound, he added.