Mangaluru Heist: Police Shoot Robbery Suspect During Escape Attempt
The Mangaluru City Police fired at a suspect on Tuesday during an escape attempt while investigating the January 17 robbery of gold and cash worth ₹10 crore from the Vyavasaya Seva Sahakari Sangha (VSSS) bank in Kotekar.
Kannan Mani, 36, a resident of Tilak Nagar, Mumbai, was arrested in Tirunelveli on Monday and brought to Mangaluru for a crime scene inspection. Around 4:20 PM, near KC Road, Mani allegedly attacked police officers with a broken beer bottle, injuring constables Anjanappa and Nithin, and pushed Inspector Balakrishna while attempting to stab him.
Despite warnings and a shot fired in the air by a Crime Branch officer, Mani continued his assault. The officer was forced to shoot Mani in the leg to subdue him. All injured, including the suspect, were admitted to a Deralakatte hospital for treatment.
The gang involved in the robbery has a history of crimes in Mumbai. Murugandi Thevar, another key suspect arrested in Tirunelveli, is linked to a ₹6-crore heist at a Navi Mumbai finance firm in 2016. He allegedly drove the getaway car in that case.
Police recovered two pistols, machetes, and part of the stolen loot during the arrests. The gang’s meticulous planning suggests they are professionals, said Commissioner Anupam Agrawal. Efforts are ongoing to trace other suspects.
Local involvement is suspected, as the bank’s CCTV system was under repair during the heist.
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