In a major breakthrough, Mangaluru Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the daring bank robbery at the Kotekar Cooperative Society on January 17. The accused—Murugan, Prakash alias Jaiswa, and Manivannan—are all from Tamil Nadu.
According to police reports, a gang of five armed men stormed the bank in Mangaluru, threatening the staff with pistols and machetes, and made off with stolen items. The criminals used a car registered in Maharashtra to carry out the robbery and fled to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, passing through Kerala.
A thorough investigation led the police to Tamil Nadu, where they apprehended the three suspects on January 20. The police have recovered key evidence, including a machete, two pistols, and other stolen assets. Authorities are continuing to search for the remaining suspects.
The police commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, expressed suspicion of local collusion in the crime. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held an emergency meeting in Mangaluru and ordered urgent action to apprehend the remaining dacoits.
The dacoits made off with gold articles worth over Rs12 crore and Rs5 lakh in cash during the robbery at the K.C. Road branch of the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank.