KOLLAM: IN a theft at the Bevco outlet in Sasthamkotta here, a day’s collection amounting to Rs 13.95 lakh was taken away by ‘unidentified persons’.
According to the police, the incident is suspected to have taken place around 10.30 pm on Tuesday at the outlet functioning near the Old Court Junction after ‘a gang of six masked men tied up a watchman and robbed the outlet.’’ As per the statement of the watchman, six masked men reached the outlet with weapons and when he tried to prevent them from advancing towards the outlet, they tied him up and barged into the outlet.
“We are not taking the statement of the watchman at face value. As per his version, the gang freed him after the robbery. While checking the locker, it was found that the thieves had effortlessly taken out the money. This will not be possible without any internal help. Fingerprint experts as well as forensic analysts are looking into the matter,” said an official with the Sasthamkotta police station.
Meanwhile, according to local accounts, the watchman, after being freed by the thieves, had alerted a security guard of a nearby ATM and it was he who alerted the locals about the incident. The Sooranad SI who was passing by at that time alerted the Sasthamkotta police about the incident.