Bhopal ATM Heist Attempt Ends in Arrests of Engineering Students
In a bizarre incident highlighting the perils of substance abuse, two BTech students and a 19-year-old accomplice were involved in a failed attempt to steal an entire ATM in Bhopal. The crime occurred in the early hours of December 13, about nine days ago, in the Barkheda Pathani area under Govindpura police limits.
The Failed Robbery and Police Investigation
According to police, the trio, allegedly under the influence of nitravet tablets, managed to uproot the ATM machine of a nationalised bank. However, their plan quickly unraveled as they failed to break open the machine's safe. Their efforts to transport the heavy ATM in a car also proved futile due to its weight.
Leaving the ATM behind, the accused then drove around the same area for nearly two to three hours in a misguided attempt to mislead law enforcement, stated Govindpura SHO Awadhesh Singh Tomar.
The breakthrough for the police came through CCTV footage which helped identify the car used in the crime. Investigations revealed the vehicle was registered in the name of the mother of a junior from the accused's college. The students had borrowed the car on the pretext of going to a party.
Motive: Funding Addiction and a 'Luxury Lifestyle'
During interrogation, the arrested accused confessed to a shocking motive. Addicted to substance abuse, they planned the ATM theft to generate funds to sustain not only their drug habit but also what they described as a 'luxury lifestyle'. This lifestyle, as per police, included desires for expensive mobile phones, cars, and frequent parties.
Acting on the lead from the car, police arrested two of the accused on Monday. Efforts are currently ongoing to apprehend the third accused, who is also a student. DCP Singh provided details of the botched operation, confirming the sequence of events.
Ongoing Manhunt and Broader Implications
While two of the young men are now in custody, the Govindpura police team is actively working to locate and arrest the third student involved. This case throws a stark light on the dangerous intersection of drug addiction, peer pressure among students, and the pursuit of unaffordable luxuries leading to serious crime.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale, raising questions about substance abuse in educational institutions and the extreme lengths it can drive individuals to.
