Guwahati: Dhubri police have successfully apprehended Mukesh Gowala, a criminal with a significant history of bank lootings, in a coordinated effort with authorities in West Bengal. The arrest occurred in the Fatapukur area of Jalpaiguri, marking the culmination of an intensive investigation spearheaded by the Golakganj police team.
Gowala was a prime suspect in the recent robbery at the State Bank of India’s Golakganj Branch, where a substantial amount of Rs 4,37,500 was stolen from a customer. The victim, Hitesh Rai, an ATM operator from the locality, was targeted inside the bank premises while engaged in a conversation with a staff member at the employee counter on March 20.
Eyewitness accounts and crucial CCTV footage from the bank clearly documented Gowala’s modus operandi, showing him approaching Rai from behind and swiftly absconding with the bag containing the cash. This visual evidence proved instrumental in identifying Gowala as the perpetrator and launching a focused manhunt.
Following the registration of the FIR at the Golakganj Police Station, Dhubri’s Superintendent of Police, Navin Singh, initiated a comprehensive investigation. Leveraging the CCTV evidence and other intelligence, the police pursued various leads that eventually pointed towards Gowala’s presence in the neighbouring state of West Bengal.
The decisive breakthrough came when the Assam police team successfully tracked Gowala to a clandestine location in Jalpaiguri. Working in tandem with the West Bengal Police, they executed a well-coordinated raid, leading to the successful apprehension of the accused. Mukesh Gowala, notorious in local circles as a “chiloni thief” for his quick and stealthy heists, is now in custody and will face legal proceedings for his involvement in numerous robbery cases.
The capture of Gowala is considered a significant achievement for the Dhubri Police, demonstrating their commitment to tackling criminal activities that often transcend state boundaries. Authorities anticipate that the interrogation of Gowala will yield valuable information that could potentially help resolve other similar cases.
This successful operation underscores the effectiveness of inter-state police cooperation between Assam and West Bengal, reinforcing their joint dedication to upholding law and order and ensuring the safety and security of citizens across both states.
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