JOIN USA man, suspected to have robbed a woman software firm employee inside an ATM centre here yesterday, had been held, police sources said today.
Sources, however, did not disclose his name, only stating that a firearm and three live rounds had been seized from his possession. Further details are expected to be given later in the evening.
The incident had taken place in Yosufguda area here yesterday morning when Lalitha (25), who works with a software firm and stays at a hostel in Madhura Nagar, went to the ATM centre to withdraw money.
As she entered the centre, an unidentified man, face covered with kerchief, followed her inside and asked her to hand over her jewellery, etc.
When she resisted, he fired into wall from a pistol, and took away her gold chain, earrings (weighing around 20 grams in total), cell phone and also the ATM card.
The pistol was suspected to be a country-made one, said the deputy commissioner of police A Venkateshwera Rao.
"He also forced her to disclose PIN number of ATM card and tried to withdraw money before fleeing but failed due to some technical problem," the DCP said, adding "we suspect that the accused is a repeat offender...we are collecting scientific evidence."
Fifteen minutes after the accused fled from the spot, Rs 2,500 were found to have been withdrawn from another ATM centre using the victim's card.