Public foil bid to rob inside ATM kiosk

The public on Friday caught a miscreant who was trying to flee after snatching a mobile phone from a woman who was withdrawing cash at the Punjab National Bank ATM near Vasanth Nagar.

The accused, Mohammed Munnavar (26), is from Assam, the police said. He was arrested a year ago by the Sanjay Nagar police for attempting dacoity. Munnavar was recently released on bail and was leading the life of a vagabond.

On Friday evening, the victim went to the ATM along with her friend. However, there was no security guard at the ATM.

When the victim entered the ATM, Munnavar barged in and flashed a knife and asked her to hand over the bag. On finding the bag empty, Munnavar took her mobile phone and fled from the spot, the police said.

The victim and her friend raised an alarm and the public caught the accused and thrashed him, and handed over to the police.

During the interrogation, Munnavar told the police that he was left with little money that he earned in jail. So he decided to rob someone.

“The public heard the victim screaming and ran to her rescue. When she told that the person was running away with her mobile phone, they nabbed him and also gave him a thrashing, and handed him over to the police,” a senior police officer said.

When asked about the absence of a security guard at the ATM, he said, “The matter will be raised with the bank authorities.” A case has been registered and further investigation is on.