SINDHULI: Police have arrested seven people in connection with the robbery of the Nepal SBI Bank branch in Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality of Sindhuli district.

The District Police Office, Sindhuli, made the details of those arrested public during a press conference held on Thursday.

According to SP Police Lal Dhwaj Subedi, seven suspects involved in the bank robbery at around 7:30 pm on January 13 have been arrested. One suspect is at large.

Those arrested include Bhagwat Singh Thapa (49) from Banepa Municipality–10 of Kavre, Chatur Man Bajyu (47) from Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality–2 of Sindhuli, Shashank Shrestha (24) from Bharatpur Metropolitan City–2 of Chitwan, Milan Giri (23) and Bibek Magar (19) from Panchakanya Rural Municipality–5 of Nuwakot, Chhabilal Syangtan (44) from Ghyanglekh–2 of Sindhuli, and a minor.

On the evening of January 13, the suspects held the bank’s security guard, Rudra Bahadur Karki, and on-duty employees hostage before carrying out the robbery. The guard, who was attacked with a khukuri knife, has sustained minor injuries. The assailants then entered the bank, looted cash, and fled the scene.

Police traced a Tata Sumo vehicle and its driver, Bhagwat Singh Thapa, about two kilometres east of the crime scene at Lipikhola. During preliminary questioning, the driver told the police that six unidentified individuals had hired the vehicle from Banepa earlier that day, claiming that they were travelling for a wedding.

According to the bank, the robbers looted Rs 30.7 million from the bank. Police have recovered Rs 26.85 million from the suspects. Two khukuri knives, one plastic pistol, five mobile phones, one roll of wide tape, three black masks, one red mask, and a pair of black gloves used in the crime were also recovered from them.

The suspects are being investigated on charges related to theft and robbery.

(Translated from RSS)