ATM Heist in Siliguri Sparks Fears of Inter-State Crime Gang; Over ₹10.49 Lakh Looted

Agencies and KalimNews, June 20, 2025, Siliguri : In a daring and meticulously executed crime, miscreants looted two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of a nationalized bank in the Jyoti Nagar area near Champasari More in Siliguri during the early hours of Thursday, June 19. The incident, which bears a striking resemblance to a recent ATM robbery in Maynaguri, has raised alarm over the possible operations of an inter-state gang targeting financial infrastructure across North Bengal.

According to preliminary investigations, the criminals used a gas cutter to break open the ATMs and fled with an estimated sum of ₹10.49 lakh. The gas cutter used in the operation was later recovered from a bush in the Gosaipur area of Bagdogra on Thursday afternoon. Officials have stated that a full audit is still underway to determine the precise amount stolen.

The robbery was first noticed around 2 a.m. by a local resident’s daughter who lives opposite the ATM booth. She observed a group of masked individuals engaged in suspicious activity, including what appeared to be a fire inside the booth. Despite multiple attempts, she was unable to contact the police via the emergency helpline 100. She alerted her father, Nimai Shil, who, along with local residents, informed law enforcement authorities.

By the time officers from Pradhan Nagar Police Station and fire brigade personnel reached the site, the culprits had already escaped. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. In an attempt to avoid detection, the assailants had sprayed black paint on the CCTV camera installed inside the ATM booth, rendering it non-functional and obstructing visual evidence.

The criminals are believed to have arrived at the scene in a white four-wheeler with their faces fully covered, as per eyewitness accounts. The entire sequence of events was captured on the mobile phone of the girl who witnessed the incident. These recordings have been handed over to the investigating team.

Bijay Sewa, an official from the concerned bank, confirmed that a preliminary estimate puts the stolen amount at approximately ₹10.49 lakh, with further verification pending. The Ward 46 Councillor, Dilip Barman, who visited the site shortly after the incident, expressed concern over the growing presence of unidentified individuals in the city. He stated, "The number of outsiders in Siliguri has significantly increased. Many are moving freely without checks. It is quite likely that this robbery was carried out by criminals from other states."

The incident follows closely on the heels of a similar ATM heist in Maynaguri, intensifying suspicions of a larger, coordinated network operating across district and state boundaries. In response, police stations across North Bengal—including the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and North Dinajpur—have been put on high alert.

Law enforcement has taken swift steps in the investigation, with a team from Pradhan Nagar Police Station already dispatched to Bihar to trace possible links to a suspected inter-state gang. Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and speaking to local witnesses to gather further leads.

This latest heist has reignited concerns among civic leaders and the public alike about ATM security and the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, coordination among regional police units, and swift, visible action to deter organized crime.