KAMALAMAI (Sindhuli): District Police have made public the details of seven individuals arrested in connection with the robbery of Nepal SBI Bank at Hayutar, Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality–2, Sindhuli. Police have identified the house owner, Chhabilal Syangtan, as the main mastermind behind the robbery.
The bank was robbed on the night of Poush 29. Police investigations have confirmed that the robbery was carried out under a plan orchestrated by Syangtan, in whose house the bank branch was operating.
According to Sindhuli District Police Chief and Superintendent of Police Lal Dhwaj Subedi, those arrested include: 49-year-old Bhagwat Singh Thapa of Banepa Municipality–10, Kavre (vehicle driver); 47-year-old Chaturman Bajyu of Ghyanglekh–2; 24-year-old Sashansh Shrestha of Bharatpur Metropolitan City–2, Chitwan; 23-year-old Milan Giri and 19-year-old Bibek Magar of Panchakanya Rural Municipality–5, Nuwakot; 44-year-old Chhabilal Syangtan of Ghyanglekh–2; and a 16-year-old minor.
Police have obtained a five-day remand from the Sindhuli District Court to continue investigation. Superintendent Subedi stated that three individuals appear to be the main planners of the robbery. “We have arrested the house owner Chhabilal Syangtan and his brother-in-law Chaturman Bajyu, while another key suspect remains absconding,” he said.
Police have recovered Rs 268,555,175 in cash robbed from the bank. Investigation has revealed that the pistol shown during the robbery was fake. According to police, bank employees, including security guard Rudra Bahadur Karki, were threatened using a plastic pistol and khukuris.
Items seized by police include two khukuris, one plastic pistol, five mobile phones, one roll of wide packing tape, three black masks, one red mask, and a pair of black gloves.
Police investigations further revealed that Syangtan managed weapons for the robbers and maintained information-sharing with them. Bajyu, his son-in-law Syangtan, and the absconding suspect had reportedly been planning the robbery since Ashoj 2082 B.S., making multiple attempts before succeeding.
The first robbery attempt was planned for Poush 23, when four suspects arrived in Sindhuli from Kathmandu on two motorcycles but returned due to unfavorable circumstances. Another attempt was planned for Poush 28 after gathering in Koteshwor, Kathmandu, but was abandoned due to delays. On Poush 29, they regrouped, traveled to Banepa by public transport, hired a Tata Sumo (Ba 1 Ja 0398), and reached Ghyanglekh.
On the evening of the robbery, the suspects entered the SBI Bank branch, restrained the security guard and staff, threatened the branch manager with a plastic pistol, forced open the vault, and fled with cash packed in sacks and bags.
Police, with assistance from local residents, successfully arrested the suspects during their escape and recovered the stolen cash and evidence. The accused are being investigated under theft and robbery-related charges. According to police, a total of Rs 307 million was looted from the bank.
