Surat: The mystery surrounding the daylight robbery at Gujarat Gramin Bank in the Sachin area has been solved within just two days, as police arrested the prime accused along with the stolen cash and a pistol. The arrested individual, identified as Najis alias Bablu Mohammad Sanullah Sheikh, aged 22, was caught with a country-made pistol, seven live cartridges, and ₹3.76 lakh in stolen money.
According to the police, Najis, a native of Phulwaria village in Bihar’s Champaran district and currently residing in Sachin, had been harboring dreams of acquiring an Amazon Prime delivery franchise. The scheme required an initial investment of ₹10 to ₹12 lakh. Lured by the idea of earning ₹80 to ₹90 lakh per month, he decided to rob a bank located in his own neighborhood.
Investigations revealed that Najis had thoroughly observed the bank before executing the plan. He knew that the branch was understaffed, with only two female employees and a temporary worker, and had no security guard on duty. Exploiting this vulnerability, he entered the bank on May 20, brandished a weapon, held the employees hostage, and looted ₹3.76 lakh before fleeing the scene.
Surprisingly, Najis had visited the bank a day earlier, on May 19, with the intent to commit the robbery but backed out at the last moment due to a lack of confidence. The incident was caught on CCTV, which helped the police identify him. Based on the footage, the Surat Crime Branch launched a swift operation and arrested the suspect from near the British Cemetery in Katargam.
As per agency report, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhavesh Rozia confirmed that Najis had procured the firearm and ammunition from a man named Deepak in Bihar about a month ago before arriving in Surat with a clear plan to rob the bank. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the weapon and whether other individuals were involved in the crime.
The incident has reignited concerns over the security measures at banks. The absence of armed guards and minimal staffing allowed the suspect to carry out the robbery with relative ease. Police have urged banking institutions to strengthen their security protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
