Hyderabad: In a first of a kind operation to hunt down armed robbers in the city, the elite Counter terror Octopus forces joined the Cyberabad Police on the pursuit to nab the suspects who targeted the Muthoot finance branch in Mailardevpally on Tuesday morning.

Cops who are probing if the suspects had connection with terror modules, called in the anti-terror squad. A police chase ended at Happy Homes apartment in Attapur on Tuesday late in the evening leading to some dramatic moments unfolding with officials suspect seven armed robbers hiding in the building. Multiple CC TV footages collected from roads at Mailardevpally indicated the robbers moving in an SUV towards Attapur and eventually parking at the lot of the apartment.

Earlier in the December Muthoot heist also, police found that the suspects had connection with the Mumbai underworld and they also used weapons in the robbery.

The car used by the suspects in Muthoot robbery attempt was traced to the premises of Happy Homes apartment in Attapur.

Heavy Police forces including the Octopus cordoned off the area, suspecting that the suspects hiding there.

This presence of the heavily armed security personnel in the premises created terrorist operation like scene leading to panic situation among the residents. The Happy home apartment located beside the Aramghar to Hyderguda stretch comprises of 9 high rise block with more than 300 flats.

Police said that the suv used by the suspects entered the city from Patancheru and through the ORR reached Shamshabad and then to Mailardevpally. After the failed attempt at Muthoot, they drove towards Aramghar and took the PVNR expressway and then came to Attapur and entered the apartments and parked the vehicle in the lot of the VI block.

“ We found two persons getting down from the vehicle and entering the apartment. We suspect the other suspects are also hiding in the apartment.” a senior official said.

In order to ensure of the safety of the residents, Police convinced them and are vacating all the flats. While Police have cordoned of the area, the Octopus teams will carry out the hunt

“ Once we clear the apartment from the residents and get a go, octopus teams will enter each block and hunt them out.” another official at the spot said.

Meanwhile Police also found that the number which the vehicle had was actually registered in the name of a Maruti Swift vehicle in the name of a person from Old city. Cops said that the suspect used a fake number for the vehicle.