Gandola burglary mystery over; five arrested, Rs 39 lakhs out of Rs 51 recovered

Srinagar: A week after the burglars struck at cash counter cum account room at Gulmarg Gondola and looted cash of Rs 51 lakh, Baramulla Police Tuesday claimed that five of the burglars have been arrested. Police said that one among the arrested person was an employee of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation JKCCC (Gandola).
Addressing a press conference Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Abdul Qayoom told reporters that five persons including one JKCCC employee has been arrested in connection with the burglary incident at Gulmarg Gandola.
Earlier on the intervening night of June 23-24, burglars struck at cash counter cum account room at Gulmarg Gondola and looted cash of Rs 51 lakh by breaking into the fire-cum-bullet-proof cash chest.
Police had registered a case under FIR number 05 of 2019 under section 457, 380 RPC in Police Station Gulmarg following the burglary incident and a team was constituted by the SSP Baramulla to investigate the case.
However, after a week since the incident took place, SSP said that all the involved persons have been arrested while as the stolen amount Rs 51 lakh has been recovered from their possession.
Managing Director Jammu Kashmir Cable Car Project (JKPCC) Shamim Ahmad told media persons that the employee who is among the burglars was keeping eye on every development from last six months, adding that on this day the cashier had unfortunately kept the keys there following which such an incident took place.
He added that the cash looted by these burglars was the collection of three days, which couldn’t be deposited in the bank due to Saturday and Sunday, adding that following the incident the SOPs have been further strengthened.
“We have also asked JK Bank officials to collect the cash at least thrice in a day. Besides, we are planning to go for cashless transaction from onwards. We will also ask the tourism players to make debit cards within a week’s period and we will launch campaigns in this regard so that such an unfortunate incidents will not take place in the future,” Ahmad added.
He further stated that the corporation has also done insurance worth Rs one crore and related measures have also been taken to ensure the collection is safe.