Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, May 23: Days after employees of a cash transporting agency were arrested for running away with Rs 7.5 crore from Axis Bank from here, it is now learned that the culprits lived in the jungle by eating only bread for 3 days. On the fourth day they were caught by police when they were hungry for food.
The arrested accused persons are, Karibasava (24) of Chitradurga, and gunmen Poovappa (38) and Kariappa (46) from Kodagu.
They were arrested from Somwarpet on May 16 and Rs 6.3 crore of the total sum Rs 7.5 crore was recovered from them.
Arrested accused
Vehicle used in crime
On May 11, four employees including the above from SIS Prosegur-Holdings Agency were supposed to transport Rs 7.5 crore by a van from Yeyyadi branch of Axis Bank here to its branch in Koramangala in Bengaluru. But after loading the van, the accused went absconding. The empty van was later found at Hunsur.
Parashurama, who was the custodian of cash in the vehicle, is being interrogated by police. It is said that Parashurama was threatened during the journey and then the four men managed to loot the cash. Another accused Bheemayya is absconding. Search is on to arrest him, police say.
When all the vehicles used by SIS Prosegur-Holdings Agency have GPS system installed for easier tracking, the Bolero vehicle used in this crime did not have GPS. This gave them a chance to remain untraced. When they were supposed to use Hassan road to reach Bengaluru, they used Madikeri road instead which no one knew.
They unloaded the money at Kumbaragadige around 20 kilometers from Somwarpet and left the vehicle at Hunsur to mislead the police. Then they went into the jungle near Kumbaragadige and remained there for 4 days.
They had only bred loaves with them. To reach a hotel, the journey was 4 kilometers. They thought it was dangerous to do that. So they ate what they had. The bread lasted only for 3 days. On the fourth day, they had to get something to eat. Ultimately they decided to phone a friend who was a driver. That phone call proved costly for them as the police who were waiting for a clue found it and with that help they managed to catch the three accused.
In addition to hunger, the accused also face fear of animals and deadly insects which made their lives miserable. The police team from Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu caught them ultimately. But as per Valentine D’Souza, ACP (CCRB), it was not easy to apprehend them even after locating them as two of the accused were gunmen. “We had to apply combing operation style which is used in fighting against naxalites.” he said.