Azamgarh: Gambhirpur police in Azamgarh district arrested a criminal involved in ATM fraud, theft, and robbery following a gunfight in which he sustained a leg injury early Monday, officials said.
The accused, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Sultanpur, was apprehended after police received intelligence about his movement on Thekma-Azamgarh road via Rohua crossing in an SUV. As police tried to stop the vehicle, Kumar reportedly opened fire to escape. Officers returned fire, forcing him to jump out of the SUV, where he was eventually caught with a leg injury.
Authorities seized a country-made pistol, cartridges, an SUV, ATM cash-trapping equipment (11 plastic strips, 1 mould, a cutter machine, 1 metal cutter, 1 tester), 3 ATM cards, 1 mobile phone, and Rs 2,530 cash from him before taking him to the hospital.
Azamgarh ASP (City) Madhuvan Kumar Singh said Kumar came on police radar after the manager of Union Bank of India’s Ranipur Rajmo branch filed a complaint regarding a failed withdrawal of Rs 20,000 on January 4. CCTV footage revealed an unknown person installing a cash-trapping device on the ATM dispenser, causing the cash to get stuck, which could later be retrieved.
During interrogation, Kumar reportedly confessed to multiple ATM frauds along with his accomplices. He identified machines, installed cash-trapping strips, and withdrew money after users left. The stolen money was reportedly shared among the gang members.
The accused is believed to have committed similar frauds at multiple ATMs across Azamgarh and was active in the city’s criminal network. Police investigations into the case are ongoing.
