Two Suspects in Afzalgunj Shooting and Bidar ATM Robbery Arrested in Bihar
Two key suspects linked to the sensational Afzalgunj shooting in Hyderabad and the fatal Bidar ATM cash robbery have been arrested in Bihar by the Karnataka police. The suspects, identified as Manish Kushwaha and his associate Amit Kumar, were taken into custody on Wednesday. Following their arrest, the Bidar police brought both men to Karnataka to conduct further investigation into their involvement in the case.
The arrest comes nearly 18 months after the violent events of January 16, 2025. On that day, the duo allegedly carried out a high-profile robbery at an ATM in Bidar, looting Rs 93 lakh in cash. During the course of the heist, an ATM security guard named Giri Venkatesh was shot dead, while a second security guard, identified as Shivakumar, sustained injuries during the attack.
Later that same day, the suspects arrived in Hyderabad and headed directly to the Roshan Travels office located in the Afzalgunj locality to book travel tickets to Raipur. While they were at the travel agency, an employee named Mohammed Jahangir spotted large bundles of cash inside their luggage. Jahangir questioned the two men about the cash they were carrying in their bags.
Upon being questioned by the employee, one of the suspects allegedly drew a firearm and opened fire, injuring Jahangir inside the agency. The perpetrators then escaped, prompting the Hyderabad Police to launch an extensive search operation.
Law enforcement authorities, including the Hyderabad Police, had been tracking the duo across multiple States since the shooting occurred. Earlier during the investigation, police officials suspected that the suspects had managed to cross state lines and flee towards Nepal.
However, fresh intelligence enabled the Karnataka police to locate Kushwaha and Kumar in Bihar, leading to their arrest on Wednesday. The suspects have now been brought to Karnataka by the Bidar police for detailed questioning regarding the Bidar robbery, the guard's murder, and the shooting at Afzalgunj.
