AGARTALA, August 19 (TIWN): A.D Nagar police on Wednesday after a long investigation detained 3 robbers from Churraibari related to the theft case of looting ATM machine from Beltali area under A.D.Nagar police station on Tuesday mid-night.Along with the thieves the ATM machine is also recovered from Churraibari.On yet another mysterious incident, in a daring heist the hi-tech robbers looted one ATM machine of State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday night from Agartala Arundhutinagar Beltoli area under A.D.Nagar police station. However, 3 has been detained in connection to the incident, police said.According to the police, the robbers came in van bearing number AS6928 and thronged into the ATM counter. The police claimed that they have been questioning the people around to trace the culprits.The arrested are identified as Shahjahan Ali (23), Ajnor Ali (32), and Ranjan Das (18). Police confirmed that the thieves came from Assam from a van bearing number AS6928.Two others are yet absconding, claimed police.The ATM counter is located just adjacent to the AD Nagar police station and still the robber’s managed to flee with the entire ATM machine.According to the police the incident took place on Tuesday midnight. The looters managed to lift the ATM machine from Beltoli ATM counter. The ATM belongs to the SBI, said police.Asked about development of the case, police said the AD Nagar police team has also conducted a raid in and around the area to trace out the ATM machine and finally detained the thieves from Churraibari.

 Lakhs of money was credited in the ATM machine.

A police official said that the ATM robbery took place under the cover of darkness. Taking advantage of the darkness, the robbers executed their plan and thronged into ATM counter. The official further said that the robbery was a well thought out plan as the robbers came equipped with all the tools required to carry out the robbery. 

It is to be mentioned here that looting of ATM machines and cash either from the ATM or from bank customers account has rampant across the state whereas the police had so far failed to trace the main culprit linked to it.  

According to available information from the locals, the miscreants tried to break the lock of the ATM of SBI bank on Tuesday mid-night; failing to break the ATM the miscreants eloped with the entire ATM machine.

This kind of incident has become rampant over the state; every after few days one after another ATM machine of the city are being robbed by the miscreants.

Despite increasing number of robbery incidents at ATMs, the bank authorities also failed to ensure adequate security at ATM counters and proper facility of CCTV cameras, alleged the locals.

As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guideline, it is a mandatory for all banks to provide a security guard, CCTV camera and trigger alarms at all ATMs. However, most of the ATMs don’t have a security guard and CCTV cameras.

Most of the time it has been noted that the cameras which has been installed in the ATM booths remains non-functional or damaged, said the locals.

However, police is further investigating the case.