Police today groped in the dark even over 24 hours after the daring bank heist in which two masked assailants gunned down tree persons before escaping with Rs 50 lakh meant to replenish the ATM of a private bank.
"We are continuing with massive raids round the clock," SSP Yashasvi Yadav said.
With Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav directing DG Police A K Jain to crack the case in 15 days and recover the money, 16 teams of the Lucknow Police carried out simultaneous raids in various parts of the state capital and neighbouring areas.
In an apparent reference to the incident and other crimes, Governor Ram Naik said the state police need to instill sense of security among the mass as there is fear in their minds because of various crimes.
"The first and foremost responsibility of police is to maintain law and order, as all criminal activities whether its is act of terror, murder or dacoity, create a sense of fear in the mind of a common man," Naik said at an event here to mark the Police Week.
"Police force has to work to instill sense of security among the common man. I request all policemen to take a firm resolve to perform their duty meaningfully," he said.
At another function as part of the Police Week, the Chief Minister said, "Providing better law and order and effective check on crime are the top priorities of the state government...In the changing scenario, challenges before the police have increased and the government is aware that police has to work under difficult situations."
In yesterday's incident, the criminals sprayed bullets at the guards outside the ATM in Babuganj locality in Hasanganj area close to Lucknow University campus and fled with over Rs 50 lakh after opening fire to scare away shell shocked onlookers.
Taking serious note of the incident, the Chief Minister directed the DGP to himself monitor the progress in the investigation and also announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
