Mangaluru: Chaos and frustration erupted outside the K C Road branch of Kotekar Cooperative Society after a daring robbery left customers demanding the return of their pledged gold. The theft of gold items, stored in the bank’s lockers as loan collateral, has raised serious concerns about security lapses.
Dozens of distressed customers, many of them women, gathered outside the branch, chanting slogans like “Return our gold!” and expressing their outrage over the incident. Heated arguments broke out when police restricted entry into the office, prompting authorities to step in and calm the crowd.
“I pledged my gold for a ₹1 lakh loan and have been paying my installments. Now I don’t know if I’ll ever see my gold again,” lamented Khateej, a customer from Ajjindadka. Others echoed similar fears, pointing out that this is the second robbery at the same cooperative.
“Why hasn’t security improved after the first robbery?” asked Hafeeza, another customer.
The robbers made away with gold chains, bracelets, and earrings, with investigators suspecting insider involvement due to the precise knowledge of bank operations.
MLC Ivan D’Souza, who visited the site, assured the victims that authorities are actively pursuing the culprits. “Police are confident of resolving the case soon,” he said.
Krishna Shetty K, the cooperative’s director, cited a technical glitch as the reason for the malfunctioning CCTV cameras and defended the existing security arrangements.
Meanwhile, Ullal Police have filed an FIR, and investigators are exploring connections to a similar recent robbery in Bolanthuru. Customers are demanding swift action and hope for either the return of their valuables or financial compensation from the cooperative.
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