Sword used to commit murder of Patna ATM guard found, 2 detained: Police

Patna Police claimed on Sunday they have recovered the sword used to hack a security guard manning an ATM of a state-run bank to death and detained two people in connection with his murder.

Kundan Kumar alias Pappu Malakar was on night duty on Friday at the Central Bank of India automated teller machine inside the Mauryalok shopping complex under the Kotwali police station when he was murdered.

Superintendent of police (rural) LM Prasad, who is heading the special investigation team formed to crack the case, said they have got vital clues in Kumar’s murder but refused to divulge the names of the detained men. “We will disclose the details in a couple of days,” he added.

Prasad said he has instructed all station house officers (SHOs) in the state capital to intensifPATy patrolling near ATMs.

A police officer said the sword used in the crime was recovered behind the Patna Museum with the help of a sniffer dog. “The SIT team is still conducting raids near Mandiri and behind the museum in the search of criminals,” he said.

“We are also procuring footages of CCTVs installed near the museum. We hope to crack the case soon. This incident is a big challenge to the police, as it happened only a stone’s throw away from the Kotwali police station,” he added.

The incident came to light on at around 5.30 am on Saturday when Kumar’s son, Aman, visited the ATM in search of his father after he failed to return home at the usual time. He found his father lying in a pool of blood and informed the police about the incident.

It appeared that Kumar had resisted the attackers and his body was hacked several times by the assailants.

Taking serious note of the incident, Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj removed Kotwali police station SHO Avinash Kumar for dereliction of duty.