Ghaziabad police have scrutinized footage from more than 250 closed-circuit television cameras along the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Crossings Republik, and National Highway 9 towards Meerut and Baghpat in an effort to identify three armed men who robbed a cash-laden van outside an ATM kiosk and fled with approximately Rs 20 lakh. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Robbery Details
The robbery occurred around 1 pm on Wednesday when a team from India-1, a financial services firm, had stopped to replenish an ATM near an HP petrol pump in Crossings Republik. Minutes after the team had reloaded the cash and gathered outside the kiosk for lunch, three men approached the parked van. They pointed weapons at the driver, who was the only person inside the vehicle at the time, and ordered him to open the gate. When he refused, one of the assailants fired a shot into the air. The men eventually overpowered the driver, threw him to the ground, and drove off with the vehicle, which contained nearly Rs 20 lakh.
Recovery and Investigation
Police later recovered the abandoned van near Masuri police station on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, about 10 kilometers from the crime scene. However, the accused had already fled with the cash. An FIR was registered late Wednesday night against unknown persons under Section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (robbery) at Crossings Republik police station, based on a complaint filed by India-1 employee Rajneesh Tripathi.
ACP Wave City Priyashri Pal stated that investigators had identified three suspected vehicles through CCTV footage and were cross-checking number plates. “More than 10 teams are working on the case,” she said, adding that no confirmed leads had yet emerged.
Reconnaissance Suspected
Investigators believe that the gang had been conducting reconnaissance over several days, tracking the van’s route and crew. Police earlier told the Times of India that the robbers had precise knowledge of the team’s routine, the van’s stopping pattern, and the staff’s usual lunch break hours.
