JAIPUR: A 49-year-old cashier Narendra Singh Shekhawat is fighting for his life after bravely thwarting two armed robbers who attempted to loot the Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch on Joshi Marg in Jhotwara area in the city Friday morning.
Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen, Shekhawat’s courageous resistance forced the two accused to make a quick retreat.The two were arrested by the police soon after.
Jaipur police commissioner Biju George Joseph said the suspects were being questioned to ascertain their possible involvement in other bank heists of a similar nature that had occurred earlier.
Additional police commissioner (crime) Kailash Chandra Bishnoi told TOI that the accused, who are cousins, have been identified as Bharat Meena (36), a resident of Kotputli; and Manoj Meena (29), a resident of Bhadra in Hanumangarh district.
Bharat is believed to be the mastermind of the heist. “The accused entered the bank shortly after 9.45am when only the staff was present. One of the accused stood guard at the gate of the bank, while the second asked the bank employees, including the manager, to go into a cabin,” Bishnoi said.
Shekhawat entered the bank at 9.46am and realised something was wrong. He saw Bharat and Manoj and tried to overpower them. In the fight, Shekhawat managed to pin down one of the accused in a chokehold and grabbed the other by his neck, said eyewitnesses.
‘Probe indicates that Bharat is mastermind of this robbery’
Police said that Bharat fired three shots from his country-made revolver at Shekhawat from a close range to escape. A fourth shot was also fired, which ricocheted and hit Manoj’s leg. “Our probe indicates that Bharat is the mastermind of this robbery,” Bishnoi said.
Bharat tried to flee from the scene but constable Mainka Kumari who was passing through the area caught him with the help of locals, DCP (west) Amit Kumar said, adding that the weapon has been recovered. However, Manoj escaped from the bank with a limp on one of his legs. He fled into the residential lanes of Sanjay Nagar A and B, leaving a trail of blood in his wake, which later led to his arrest.
Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen, Shekhawat’s courageous resistance forced the two accused to make a quick retreat.The two were arrested by the police soon after.
Jaipur police commissioner Biju George Joseph said the suspects were being questioned to ascertain their possible involvement in other bank heists of a similar nature that had occurred earlier.
Additional police commissioner (crime) Kailash Chandra Bishnoi told TOI that the accused, who are cousins, have been identified as Bharat Meena (36), a resident of Kotputli; and Manoj Meena (29), a resident of Bhadra in Hanumangarh district.
Bharat is believed to be the mastermind of the heist. “The accused entered the bank shortly after 9.45am when only the staff was present. One of the accused stood guard at the gate of the bank, while the second asked the bank employees, including the manager, to go into a cabin,” Bishnoi said.
Shekhawat entered the bank at 9.46am and realised something was wrong. He saw Bharat and Manoj and tried to overpower them. In the fight, Shekhawat managed to pin down one of the accused in a chokehold and grabbed the other by his neck, said eyewitnesses.
‘Probe indicates that Bharat is mastermind of this robbery’
Police said that Bharat fired three shots from his country-made revolver at Shekhawat from a close range to escape. A fourth shot was also fired, which ricocheted and hit Manoj’s leg. “Our probe indicates that Bharat is the mastermind of this robbery,” Bishnoi said.
Bharat tried to flee from the scene but constable Mainka Kumari who was passing through the area caught him with the help of locals, DCP (west) Amit Kumar said, adding that the weapon has been recovered. However, Manoj escaped from the bank with a limp on one of his legs. He fled into the residential lanes of Sanjay Nagar A and B, leaving a trail of blood in his wake, which later led to his arrest.