Attempt to loot ATM in Jorhat foiled by alert building owner

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, May 18: A possible attempt by miscreants to loot a State Bank of India ATM in the Chengeligaon area of Jorhat under Bhogdoi outpost was foiled by an alert owner of the building which housed the ATM, on Wednesday.

Incidentally, the ATM was filled with Rs 15 lakh on Tuesday. It is now confirmed that the gang had full knowledge of the cash fill and was probably monitoring it before trying to loot the vault containing the cash around 1:20 am. The incident has created sensation in the area, especially after crimils struck a day before the counting on May 19.

Owner Madan Sarma who valiantly took on the miscreants single-handedly, while talking to The Sentinel, said, “It was around 1:15 am that I heard loud noises coming from AT Road connecting Jorhat to Upper Assam. The noise was coming from a truck whose accelerator was being pressed at frequent intervals with brakes on. My house is just behind the ATM in the ground floor and at one time I came out to see what was going on and opened the gates. I saw a Punjab-body truck parked near the ATM with two men on it. As I went a step further to enquire about any technical sg, two more young men rushed out of the ATM and headed for the truck. I immediately realized that they were ATM thieves and raised a hue and cry and actually tried to catch one of them but they made a good escape.”

Madan Sarma further added, “Actually the gang of four came in the truck. They were planning to lift the ATM onto the truck. Nevertheless, early confrontation spoiled their effort. They broke the locks, the CCTV surveillance camera and the door of the lower compartment of the ATM machine. I called the police who arrived just 10 minutes after the incident and together we searched many roads but could not find the truck. Being dark, I could not record the registration number of the vehicle.”