TIRUPATI: A four-member gang allegedly uprooted and stole an SBI ATM containing Rs 13.5 lakh from the CTM Road Industrial Estate in Madanapalle town of Annamayya district early on Saturday. Police have launched a massive manhunt and formed five special teams to trace the accused.
Police said the gang arrived in a Bolero pickup vehicle, uprooted the ATM and loaded it into the vehicle. When local residents tried to stop them, the robbers allegedly threatened them with firearms before fleeing, sparking panic in area.
During the search operation, police recovered the dismantled ATM near Motla Cheruvu between Vayalpadu and Nimmanapalle. Investigators suspect the gang broke open the machine at the secluded location and escaped with the cash. Forensic experts collected evidence, while police began examining CCTV footage.
SBI ATM Administrative Officer Murali Krishna confirmed that the ATM contained Rs 13.5 lakh at the time of the theft.
Speaking to TNIE, Annamayya SP Dheeraj Kunubilli, said, “This is the work of a gang from Haryana. A similar incident occurred last month in Sri Sathya Sai and Anantapur districts, involving the same modus operandi. If not Haryana, there is a high possibility they are from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.”
“They avoided highway toll plazas and travelled through interior village roads, making it difficult to trace them through CCTV cameras. Our teams tracked their movement until around 6 am, after which they appear to have crossed the State border. Preliminary information suggests they moved towards Tamil Nadu and may later proceed to Karnataka or re-enter Andhra Pradesh before heading north,” he said.
“We suspect a local person guided the gang, as it would have been difficult for outsiders to navigate the interior roads and identify the secluded spot where the ATM was dismantled without local support. ,” the SP added. Police are continuing the investigation.