LUCKNOW: The probe against ‘ATM Baba’ alias Sudhir Mishra, has revealed that Shikarpur village of Mewat in Haryana is a nursery of ATM break-ins.Lucknow police stumbled upon the gang when it arrested four persons for allegedly stealing Rs 39.58 lakh from an ATM in Sushant Golf City police station area on Tuesday.Sources in the police said that during the interrogation of the four, they came across Shikarpur village which is around 200 km from Delhi in Mewat on Haryana-Rajasthan border.“At least one fellow from Shikarpur will be involved in crimes happening across north India in ATM break-ins. Shikarpur villagers, majority have received no formal education, and were the first ones to crack the method of taking out cash from ATM machines using gas cutters without burning the notes,” said a senior police officer who has also had a stint with the Delhi police.Police sources added that ATM Baba had also invited four men from Shikarpur for the execution of the task along with his dedicated team of youths given special training for breaking the ATM and stealing away with the cash. Senior officials said that four members from the village held a discussion before deciding on the city. “Once the plan got finalised, four members visited that city and conducted reconnaissance of the area where the act would be carried out,” he said.They used to spend around a week there and finalised the location where maximum money was loaded in the machine. They used to allegedly target the first night after the money was loaded. Hence, ATM baba took assistance from this gang.A crime branch officer said the syndicate deputes members to various cities having people with low-tech awareness.
