Criminals kill bank guard, loot ₹50 lakh

LUCKNOW: Armed criminals shot dead a guard of the Allahabad Bank in Gonda and looted the cash box containing Rs 50 lakh on Tuesday.

LUCKNOW: Armed criminals shot dead a guard of the Allahabad Bank in Gonda and looted the cash box containing Rs 50 lakh on Tuesday evening. The police have launched a manhunt to nab the criminals, who escaped after firing in the air.

Gonda SP Umesh Kumar Singh said the staff of the bank in Rani Bazar branch were carrying cash in the box to transport it to the main branch cash chest. As they walked towards the van parked at the gate of the bank, the criminals struck and tried to snatch the cash box.

Guard Sadiq Ali who challenged the criminals was shot at from point blank range. When Ali collapsed, the remaining bank staff ran for safety. The criminals escaped on a motorcycle firing in the air. Later, Ali was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

After the incident, senior police officers rushed to the spot with extra police force.

Four police teams have been constituted to nab the criminals with the help of CCTV footage.

YOUTH CONSUMES POISON IN CUSTODY, DIES

VARANASI: A youth allegedly consumed a poisonous substance in police custody at Jaitpura police station here on Tuesday and died during treatment at the BHU trauma centre, police said. Police claimed he drank a toilet cleaning substance after he asked to be allowed to relieve himself. The youth had been picked up on Monday in connection with a girl’s abduction.

However, his relatives alleged the police beat up the youth, Pintu Rajbhar, and injured him after which his condition deteriorated leading to his death. They staged a road blockade, demanding action against the cops.

Police, however, denied the allegation. SSP RK Bhardwaj suspended police outpost in-charge Durgesh Yadav and sent station officer Jaitpura Sriprakash Gupta to reserve police lines for alleged laxity.