Manipur: Weapon used in SBI ATM robbery, guard's killing recovered

Imphal: Manipur police has successfully recovered the gun used in the killing of Arambam Ranjan Meitei, a cash custodian of State Bank of India (SBI), during an ATM looting incident in Churachandpur district. The weapon and ammunition were recovered from the residence of Khongkham Brojen Singh in Imphal East, one of the three suspects under police custody.

During the investigation, the three arrested persons revealed their involvement in the daylight looting of Rs 1.15 crore in front of SBI Churachandpur main branch and were responsible for a criminal conspiracy to kill Arambam, a security cum staff of the Writer Safeguard Company (WSG), said the police.

The arrested persons are also employees of WSG that was sub-contracted by SBI for cash management in and around Churachandpur town.

Also Read: Manipur: Rs 1.15 crore looted from SBI, Churachandpur branch; Guard shot

According to the police, during the course of the investigation, it was found that Brojen Singh masterminded the robbery which was then executed by K Somen Singh in connivance with V Thangkhanmuan for which he had given his licensed 0.32 calibre revolver and six rounds of ammunition.

The same weapon was hidden in an unused ATM booth by Somen Singh and was finally picked up by Brojen Singh on September 4, the day of the incident, with only four rounds of ammunition inside as revealed by him. Later, the weapon was taken to Imphal and hidden in his home, said the police.

The investigation further revealed their involvement of siphoning off ATM money since the past five years, to an amount exceeding Rs 2 crore for their personal gain, the police said.

During the course of the investigation, the police also recovered Rs 20 lakh from the possession of one of the accused.

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