Guntur: 85 L looted from SBI branch

Guntur: In a major heist, burglars decamped with Rs 85-lakh from the State Bank of India, Nadikudi branch, in the district in the early hours of Saturday. According to Gurazala Rural Circle Inspector Umesh, the burglars broke into the bank by cutting the lock and iron grills from the backside using gas cutters. They snapped Closed Circuit camera connections and broke iron safe and decamped with the cash kept in two boxes, which were shifted from the Macherla branch to Nadikudi branch.

The robbers sprayed chilli powder at the scene of offence to prevent sniffer dogs scenting their trail. The police officials suspect that the theft took place between 1.35 am to 2.45.am. It is believed that two persons wearing masks and hand gloves committed the robbery.

Guntur rural SP Vishal Gunni rushed to the spot along with police officials and enquired about the theft. He examined bank surroundings. CLUES team collected evidence at the scene of crime. Police set up five special teams to trace the identity of the culprits.

Speaking to media, Vishal Gunni said, "We suspect the robbery was committed by professionals because they sprayed chilli powder at the place of offence to avoid being tracked by sniffer dogs. They wore masks and hand gloves."

The SP urge the locals to furnish any information about the robbery or suspicious movement of strangers to police for which they would be rewarded.