Nepali gang behind burglary attempt at ATM, two nabbed

The accused, R Ganesh Pogati (20) and Y Narath Pogati (21), were traced to their hideout in Choolaipallam in MGR Nagar, while a hunt has been launched for the remaining gang members — Harish Pogati, Agni Hatka alias Sarath, Lokesh Hatka and Bishnu Pogati. 

The duo reportedly confessed to the police that they hatched the burglary plan to become rich in a short period. After the attempt went awry, they escaped to different places in three groups. 

A special team of police personnel made headway into the case and identified the suspects with the help of CCTV footage retrieved from the bank premises as well as in the locality. 

After the investigation, the police said that the six men from Nepal reached the city three months ago to sell pani puri. They were staying in Anna Nagar. 

“As they could not find much profit in it, they decided to join a restaurant as servers. About 10 days ago, they visited a restaurant near Ramapuram for a job interview. While waiting for the bus to return home, they noticed the bank in an isolated area. That is when they hatched a plan to loot it,” said an officer, who was part of the team to nab them.

They bought cutters from a local shop, while an LPG cylinder was brought from their friend’s place in Kumbakonam. “They are not seasoned burglars and did not even know that they can’t cut iron rods with LPG cylinder,” added the officer. As the alarm in the bank went off, they abandoned their plan and fled the spot. 

“They destroyed their SIM cards in fear that they could be traced. We are hopeful of nabbing the other members soon,” the officer added. 

Police arrested two burglars who were involved in various property crimes in Kancheepuram district, and seized 125 sovereigns from them on Tuesday. The arrested persons were identified as P Singaravelan (28) of Tiruchy and T Manikandan (41) from Vellore. 

After the investigators noticed the same set of fingerprints repeatedly while they were investigating several burglaries, the Kancheepuram district superintendent formed special teams to nab the suspect. The special team, while conducting a vehicle check on the Walajabad-Kancheepuram Road on Tuesday, tried to intercept a two-wheeler. Though the two men on the bike managed to dodge them and speed away from the spot, the police officers chased and caught them at gunpoint. 

When police took their fingerprint and crosschecked on suspicion, one of them matched with the fingerprints lifted from burgled houses. After an inquiry, police said that the two were involved in several house breaking cases across the State. The duo used to roam around in a locality to find potential houses in the morning, and carried out the loot at night. 

Meanwhile, police said Manikandan has been arrested more than 20 times so far. As he knew that his fingerprints were available with the police, he always asked his partner Singaravelan to break open the doors and cupboards inside the houses. Police seized gold jewellery weighing more than 1 kilo from their hideout in the locality. Further investigation is on.