Shillong: Unidentified robbers have decamped with Rs 26 lakh from a State Bank of India ATM in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district after they broke it open, the police said today.

CCTV footage revealed that a group of seven persons entered the ATM booth at around 3 AM yesterday, they said adding it was not clear as to how they managed to break open the cash chamber of the ATM and that the matter was reported after bank employees found it broken.  SBI Nongpoh branch manager S Bhowmik said the ATM machine was fully damaged and cash of around Rs 26 lakh was stolen.

SBI officials from Shillong inspected the damaged machine in the presence of district SP C V S Reddy.  Preliminary investigations revealed that the robbers were experts and the police did not rule out the involvement of gangs from other states.

None of the seven persons could be identified as yet, they said.