Sterling cinema ransacked

MUMBAI, May 24: Two armed robbers forced their way into Sterling Cinema, Fort, this evening and beat up the theatre staff before escaping with the booty.

According to Azad Maidan police, two unidentified men entered Sterling Cinema at around 4.30 pm after threatening the watchman with choppers. The watchman was beaten up and locked inside the toilet by the robbers, and when wireman Balkrishna Joshi and one A Manke walked into the toilet when the watchman was being thrashed, they too were beaten up and gagged. Three other persons who entered the toilet soon after were also attacked, police said.

After ensuring that there was nobody at the foyer, the duo broke open the fast food counter and tried to rob money and other valuables. When the manager Rustom Mandiwalla spotted them and tried to stop them, he too was threatened with choppers. The robbers escaped after snatching his wristwatch valued at around Rs 600.

Police said the identity of the two men is yet to be established. A combing operation has beenlaunched in the Fort area to nab the culprits.