IMPHAL: A driver, who had allegedly dropped off the unidentified gunmen involved in the robbery at the Punjab National Bank in Ukhrul on November 30, has been apprehended by Ukhrul police on Saturday.
The driver has been picked up from his residence at Sihai Khullen and is currently being interrogated by the police.
Police officials told the local press that the detainee has revealed that he was forced to drop the robbers by his pick-up truck towards the Indo-Myanmar international border pillar number 124-126 after the robbery.
He also allegedly told the police that the unidentified armed miscreant has escaped towards the Indo-Myanmar border through the Ukhrul-Jessami National Highway 202. The international border from Sihai village by kaccha road is approximately 30 km.
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It is also learned that at around 7 pm on November 30, the armed miscreant forcefully asked the owner of the pick-up truck to take them towards Sihai Kahaophung, which is about 10 km from his house. The driver dropped them off and returned home after 8 pm.
Earlier on November 30, a staggering amount of approximately Rs 18.85 crore was looted from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) located in Viewland-I, the bustling heart of Ukhrul town in Manipur.
The incident had unfolded at around 5:40 pm when around ten unidentified masked men, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the bank premises, causing chaos among the bank staff and customers.
At the time of the robbery, eight personnel from the 6th Manipur Rifles were present at the PNB branch, which was previously known as the United Bank of India.
The armed men executed the heist swiftly and managed to escape before authorities could intervene.
As of now, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for this daring robbery.
