In Mangaluru, armed robbers stormed the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank, stealing gold and valuables worth ₹10–12 crore. A day earlier in Bidar, assailants killed a security guard and injured another during an ATM cash transfer, fleeing with ₹93 lakh.
Published Jan 17, 2025 | 7:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 17, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Both robberies were captured on CCTV footage.
Two violent bank robberies within 48 hours in Karnataka prompted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to convene an urgent meeting with top police officials on Friday, 17 January.
In the most recent incident on the same day, armed robbers stormed the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank on KC Road in Kotekar, Mangaluru, making off with gold ornaments and other valuables estimated at ₹10–12 crore.
The gang of five to six men, aged between 25 and 35, wielded pistols, swords, and knives during the broad daylight heist. The masked perpetrators reportedly threatened the 4–5 bank staff present on the premises in Hindi, before escaping in a black Fiat car.
Robbery at Kotekar Cooperative Bank in #Mangaluru
A brazen daylight robbery occurred at the Kotekar Agricultural Cooperative Bank on KC Road in Kotekar, Mangaluru. A gang of five to six men, aged between 25 and 35 years, entered the bank armed with pistols, swords, and knives.… pic.twitter.com/bc3OyGaS4F
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 17, 2025
A special police team has been formed to investigate the case and apprehend the culprits. CCTV footage from the bank has been taken in for analysis.
The Mangaluru robbery follows a deadly attack just a day earlier on Thursday at the State Bank of India (SBI) main branch in Bidar, where assailants killed one security guard and seriously injured another during an ATM cash transfer. The attackers used chilli powder and opened fire before fleeing the scene with ₹93 lakh in cash.
The deceased was identified as Giri Venkatesh, 40, from Chidri, Bidar, while his colleague Shivu is undergoing treatment.
The incident, which occurred near the district court and Deputy Commissioner’s office, created tension as hundreds gathered at the spot. Police quickly dispersed the crowd by setting up barricades.
CCTV footage captured the assailants, who were on a bike, intercepting the security vehicle and overpowering the personnel. The suspects were later traced to Hyderabad’s Afzalgunj bus station, where they attempted to flee to Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
#Bidar Robbery Suspects Tracked in #Hyderabad While Attempting Escape to Raipur
The Hyderabad police have traced suspected members of the Bidar robbery gang at the Afzalgunj bus station. The suspects were reportedly trying to flee to Raipur, Chhattisgarh when an incident at the… pic.twitter.com/IORO65MUXi
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 16, 2025
Dr B Balaswami, DCP, East Zone, Hyderabad City Police, said: “Two unidentified individuals arrived at Roshan Travels in Afzalgunj to book tickets to Raipur under the name Amit Kumar. During the booking process, Jahangir, a helper at the travel agency, inspected their luggage and found a significant amount of cash. Realising they had been discovered, one of the suspects pulled out a weapon and fired at Jahangir, injuring him, before fleeing the scene.”
Jahangir was rushed to hospital by the travel agency staff and is currently receiving treatment. His condition is stable, and he is out of danger.
Based on initial descriptions, the police believe the two men are linked to the Bidar robbery gang. Special teams have been formed to track the suspects, with assistance from CCTV footage. Interestingly, two Bidar police constables were reportedly on the same bus but were unable to identify the suspects, as they were travelling to Raipur on a separate case.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed strong displeasure during the high-level meeting regarding the Kotekar robbery and questioned the police on how the robbers managed to escape so easily.
Present at the meeting were Western Range Inspector General of Police Amit, Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal, Superintendent of Police Yathish, and other senior officers.
Immediate instructions were given to tighten security at all toll plazas and review CCTV footage, especially near the Kerala border.
The chief minister demanded answers about the lack of security personnel at the cooperative bank and questioned why the culprits crossed multiple toll plazas without being apprehended.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
