Surat: The Surat Crime Branch (DCB) has achieved a major breakthrough in the case related to the loot of Rs. 52 lakh from a State Bank of India branch in the Varachha area of the city, with the arrest of two accused from Uttar Pradesh.

Based on sustained investigation and technical intelligence, the Crime Branch team arrested the accused from Ayodhya and Gonda. The arrested accused have been identified as Shubham Kumar Ajit Thakur and Vikas Singh Arun Kumar Singh.

Both the accused will be produced before a court in Gonda to obtain transit remand as per legal procedure. After securing the remand, the police will bring them to Surat for detailed interrogation and further investigation.

The armed robbery took place at the State Bank of India branch located on Lambe Hanuman Road in the Varachha area on April 27, when five armed men stormed the bank in the afternoon and looted around Rs. 52 lakh.

Notably, the police investigation revealed that the accused had purchased the motorcycle used in the crime from Telangana using a fake identity in the name of Dheeraj Kumar. The bike was used as part of a planned conspiracy to execute the robbery.

The accused had reportedly arrived in Surat about a month before the incident and stayed in a rented house in the Rander area. However, they vacated the premises well before the robbery to avoid identification.

SBI Employees Announce Strike

In another development, employees of the State Bank of India have announced a strike on May 25 and 26 in protest against the robbery and alleged security lapses.

According to employee representatives, there has been a long-standing shortage of staff, and cash-handling responsibilities have been outsourced to private agencies. These agencies reportedly deploy guards who remain outside the bank premises instead of ensuring internal security.

The employees have also raised concerns about the lack of permanent recruitment to ensure the safety of staff and customers. After repeated representations to the management, they have decided to go on strike. DeshGujarat