AGENCIES, SILIGURI, 14 JUNE 2025 : In a bold and meticulously executed late-night robbery that has sent shockwaves across Jalpaiguri district, a gang of unidentified miscreants broke into two ATMs in the Bolbari area of Maynaguri and made off with a significant amount of cash. The incident occurred around midnight on Friday, and police officials have described it as one of the most serious ATM heists in recent times.
According to sources, the criminals used gas cutters to break open two State Bank of India ATM machines after spraying the CCTV cameras to block visual recording. The ATM kiosks were located inside a rented room in Bolbari. Initial estimates suggest that the gang looted lakhs of rupees, though the exact amount is yet to be confirmed.
Immediately after the break-in, the gang attempted to flee toward Siliguri in a Scorpio vehicle bearing an Assam registration number. However, police patrol units from Maynaguri grew suspicious of the vehicle and soon received confirmation of the ATM robbery. A high-speed chase ensued.
In a dramatic turn of events, the gang abandoned the Scorpio near the Mantadari Gatebazar area in the forested stretch of Baikunthapur, close to Gajoldoba, and escaped on foot under the cover of darkness. The police recovered the vehicle and discovered multiple number plates inside, indicating deliberate efforts to avoid identification and tracking. The vehicle is believed to have been specially modified for the operation.
A senior police officer said, “We suspect the gang came from outside the state. Their tactics suggest prior reconnaissance and highly coordinated movement.” Investigations are now pointing toward an inter-state criminal nexus.
Since early Saturday morning, intensive combing operations have been underway in the Gajoldoba forest area. Teams from the Siliguri Police Commissionerate, Jalpaiguri District Police, and Baikunthapur Forest Division have launched a joint search using drone surveillance and multiple checkpoints across probable escape routes.
The Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri, Umesh Khandbahale, confirmed the incident and said, “The police have launched a full-scale investigation. A team from Maynaguri police station reached the spot soon after receiving the alert and began tracking the suspects. One vehicle has been seized, and search operations in the nearby forest are in full swing. We suspect the culprits are still hiding in the area.”
All nearby police stations and enforcement agencies have been alerted. CCTV footage from the surrounding areas is also being reviewed for additional clues. Locals, meanwhile, are expressing growing concern over the safety of public infrastructure and the brazenness of such crimes.
As of late Saturday, the robbers remain at large, and authorities are continuing their efforts to apprehend them and recover the stolen money.
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