The Tribune, February 1, 2003
Bid to rob SBI branch
Our Correspondent

Ambala, January 31
A daring dacoity attempt in a branch of the State Bank of India in the city has put a question mark on security arrangements by banks. The robbers managed to carry two gas cylinders and other tools inside the bank to break the strong room and lockers. These cylinders are usually used in industrial units to cut and weld ironsheets. However, the robbers failed to take any cash from the bank.

According to police information, the robbers entered the SBI branch in Model Town here late last evening by breaking the grill of the rear window. They attempted to cut parts of the iron door of the strong room, using gas cylinders to enter into the strong room, but failed to do so. It could not be ascertained as to why did they leave their mission incompleted.

According to a bank officer, the robbers seem to be intimated with the working of the bank because on gaining entry, they immediately disconnected the security alarm, the fire alarm and the smoke detector of the bank fitted in a window close to the roof. The Chief Manager of the bank, Mr SK Gupta, said around 9.15 in the morning today when he opened the main gate of the bank along with manager VK Chibber and a sweeper he found that the lock of his cabin broken and two gas cylinders and pipes lying in the middle of the hall close to the strong room. Two of the safes and drawers of employees where important documents of the bank were kept were also found unlocked. Mr Gupta said the matter was reported to the police. The in charge of the Model Town police post, who was present in the bank, said fingerprint experts and a dog squad were summoned at the site. Mr Gupta said the robbers also attempted to enter the strong room by breaking the wall of a toilet attached with the strong room, but did not succeed. The Assistant General Manager, Chandigarh region, Mr Baljit Singh, and a senior security officer, who rushed to Ambala on hearing of the incident, said the bank authorities had made all possible arrangements inside the bank for the safety of public money. He said a few days back, a similar modus operandi was attempted in the branch at Barwala. He suspected the involvement of a specific gang in these incidents. To a question, he said banks generally provided 24-hour security to those branches where there was a chest. He said it was a local branch and the major part of the daylong collection was sent to the chest in the evening.

The police registered a case under Section 457 and 511 in this regard. According to police sources, a major hunt has been launched in the district by the police to nab the robbers. No clue has been found so far.