Ex-serviceman security guard masterminds Rs 20 lakh robbery in Ludhiana
A money changer from Jagraon in Ludhiana district hired a private security guard nine months ago after receiving threats. He trusted the guard because he was an ex-serviceman. Little did he know that this very guard would plot against him.
The guard conspired with his accomplices to rob the money changer's driver of 30,000 Canadian dollars. This amount is equivalent to approximately Rs 20 lakh. The robbery occurred near the Verka Milk Plant on January 5.
How the robbery unfolded
Money changer Nitin Goyal sent his driver, Ravi Kumar, to Ludhiana on a bus. Ravi carried the cash bag containing the Canadian dollars. He was supposed to deliver the money to Goyal's friend.
As Ravi got off the bus near Verka Milk Plant, a group of men intercepted him. They posed as CIA cops. Under the pretext of checking the bag, they took it from him. Then they fled the scene in a Toyota Innova vehicle.
Later, Goyal realized these men were impostors. He immediately filed a police complaint about the incident.
The security guard's betrayal
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Harpal Singh provided details. Goyal had hired Sarabjit Singh as his private security guard after receiving a threat. Sarabjit accompanied Goyal everywhere and knew all about his business dealings.
Sarabjit noticed his employer handled large sums of cash regularly. This gave him the idea to plan a robbery. He coordinated with his aides to execute the crime.
On January 5, when Goyal sent his driver with the cash, Sarabjit tipped off his accomplices. Three accused boarded the same bus as driver Ravi Kumar. Another accomplice followed them in an Innova.
Police action and arrests
Based on Goyal's complaint, police booked five individuals. The accused include Sarabjit Singh (48) from Talwandi Rai in Ludhiana. Harjeet Singh (51) and Sakattar Singh (48), both from Amritsar, were also named. Stephen Masih (34) from Gurdaspur and Jaspal Singh from Amritsar complete the list.
Police have arrested Sarabjit, Harjeet, Sakattar, and Stephen. Jaspal Singh remains at large, with raids underway to apprehend him.
Notably, Sarabjit, Harjeet, and Sakattar are all ex-servicemen. This background likely helped gain the victim's trust initially.
Criminal history of the main accused
CIA-1 in-charge Inspector Avtar Singh revealed Sarabjit's past. Sarabjit already has four FIRs registered against him for snatching and loot under the Arms Act. Police arrested him in 2019 in a car-snatching case.
Investigators suspect Goyal did not conduct proper police verification before hiring Sarabjit. He probably trusted him solely because of his ex-serviceman status.
Recovery of stolen items and weapons
Police have recovered the stolen 30,000 Canadian dollars. They also seized the Toyota Innova used during the crime. Additionally, officers confiscated two licensed .32 bore pistols. These weapons belonged to Sarabjit and Harjeet.
The recovery included twelve live cartridges as well. The investigation continues as police work to arrest the remaining accused.
