Collection agent attacked, robbed of Rs 25 lakh

In a broad dayligh­t robbery on Monday, an arm­ed six-member gang took Rs 25 lakh from an employee of a private firm at Thirumanga­lam. Two of the suspects have been apprehended and are being quizzed by the cops.

Police said Kamalakannan, 27, a senior executive of CMS Infotech, was entrusted with the job of collecting money from various business establishments, which is then remitted to their respective bank accounts through the company.

On Monday, Kamalakannan was on his rounds, collecting money from about 12 points including Nolambur, JJ Nagar, and Anna Nagar.

At 1.30 pm, after collecting cash from KFC in Anna Nagar, he entered Fifth Street in H Block, Anna Nagar West on his motor cycle, when a duo on another motorbike mowed him down.

What Kamalakannan initially thought was an accident took a turn for the worse when another quartet reached the spot in two motorcycles and slashed him with swords on both his shoulders. He attempted in vain to protect the cash bag when he received the next blow to his left knee. The gang snatched the cash bag and scooted from the spot.

Sources said the company usually sent an armoured truck to pick up the cash if the collection exceeded `5 lakh, but that was somehow given the slip on Monday. In fact, Kamalakannan was al­one when he was attacked.

The injured Kamalakannan, who was first rushed to a nearby hospital and then shifted to another hospital, had to undergo surgery.

His superiors, who were at the hospital, were tight-lipped about the incident.

Speaking to Express, City Police Commissioner S George said Anna Nagar DC Prem Anand Sinha was on the job. “With definite clues, we have identified all six suspects,” he said, adding that “the case will be cracked in a day or two”.