MP: IAS Aspirant And Gang Who Blew Up ATMs With Explosives To Loot Money Caught

So, you know how civil services aspirants are supposed to make sure crimes are at an all time low when they finally take on the role they've aspired to for so long??But how bizarre is it when one's involved in money robbery and blowing up ATMs?

Six people, including a civil services aspirant, were arrested for stealing from ATMs that they blew up using explosives in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday, according to police.?

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Superintendent of police, Hemant Chauhan, Damoh, said that the mastermind of the gang was 28-year-old civil services aspirant named Devendra Patel. The gang was robbing ATMs by blowing them up using gelatin sticks since June 2019.?

“The accused had formed a gang and started looting ATMs by blowing it up with the help of a detonator since June last year. Recently, they blew up an ATM in Simaria area in neighbouring Panna district on July 19 and looted cash worth Rs 23 lakh,” HT quoted Mr Chauhan as saying.?

Devendra had reportedly learnt the technique of looting ATMs on the internet.

Also Read: After Evading Arrest For 38 Years, Man Nabbed For Alleged Bank Robbery

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“Most of them are educated and have good knowledge of technology. Devendra Patel, who is a civil services aspirant, had learnt the technique of looting ATMs on the internet. They used to come on two bikes by covering their faces. Two people used to overpower an ATM gaurd and spray black paint on cameras, two used to connect the detonator with the bike battery and two used to collect the cash. They used to take only 14 minutes in committing the whole crime,” Chauhan reportedly said.

However, following a robbery in Panna, the gang was busted because there was a CCTV camera installed in a shop next to the ATM.

Mr Chauhan said, “After committing crime in Panna, they followed the same modus operandi but didn't pay attention to a CCTV camera installed in a shop just next to the ATM. Police got some important clues from the CCTV footage and arrested them from their native village.”

Also Read:?Man Held For Robbery Attempt After Losing Job Due To COVID-19, Police Gives Ration To Family

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The other five members of the gang have been identified as Jgeshwar Patel, Nitesh Patel, Jairam Patel, Rakesh Patel, and Param Lodhi. All of them are residents of Khajri village of Damoh district.

Rs 25.57 lakh cash, two country made pistols, eight live cartridges, detonator, fake currency notes of Rs 3 lakh and a coloured printer was recovered from them by the police.?

The gang is also being interrogated by the police to know if they are involved in any other crimes. Reportedly fake notes of Rs 500 denomination were also recovered from a house of Devendra Patel.?

Guess this money heist was not as well-planned as that of the Oceans?gang.?