Patna, June 2: Investigations have indicated that the two polytechnic examinees, killed in Nalanda on Sunday, lost their lives after trying to mislead the robbers by giving them wrong PIN numbers of their ATM cards.

Rahul Kumar and Sujeet Kumar, alias Prem, both residents of Purnea, who had gone to Biharsharif in Nalanda district to take their polytechnic examinations, were found murdered atop Hiranya hills. The duo had gone for an evening stroll near Hanuman temple on Saturday.

The robbers pushed the youths off the hilltop after failing to withdraw money from the bank accounts of Rahul and Sujeet after snatching their ATM cards. The two had provided wrong PIN numbers of their ATM cards to the robbers, who made an abortive bid to withdraw money from their bank accounts.

However, another youth, Rahul (namesake), survived the attack. “The robbers let off Rahul (friend of Sujeet), as he had disclosed the correct PIN number. Rahul was so frightened after being assaulted that he didn’t inform the police about the incident and hid at a deserted place,” said an investigating officer.

The officer added: “Had Rahul informed the security personnel on time, the two students could have been saved. A team of five policemen has been deployed to keep an eye on the movement of anti-socials and ensure the safety of tourists on the hilltop. The police came to know about the thrashing of the students around Saturday midnight from another group of tourists from Araria, who had managed to dodge the robbers.”

Nalanda superintendent of police (SP) Siddharth Mohan Jain said the robbers managed to withdraw Rs 300 from Rahul’s account through ATM.

The SP said: “Sujeet and his friend Rahul, however, deceived them by providing them wrong PIN numbers. Angered over their action, the robbers pushed off Rahul and Sujeet from the hilltop, causing instant death. However, their bodies were recovered the next morning.”

“Another youth, identified as Sarwajeet Kumar, also a resident of Purnea, however, suffered serious injuries after being assaulted by the robbers, who were in the age group of 18 to 25 years. Sarwajeet had joined the group comprising Sujeet and the two Rahuls after they met in Biharsharif. They had planned to stay in the temple at night and fell in the trap of the anti-socials, who were roaming in the same area,” the SP added.

Jain said one of the robbers, identified as Lala Chaurasia, also suffered injuries in his leg while trying to flee the spot. He fractured a leg and is undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital in police custody. Lala’s associate, Bukhra, both residents of Badi Pahari in Nalanda district, have been detained for interrogation.

The SP said the robbers were not carrying any lethal weapons such as revolvers and pistols. “They attacked the youths with a hard blunt substance (possibly logs). “The cellphone of one of the robbers had been seized and the call details are being obtained,” he said, adding that forensic experts had also collected blood samples from the spot. Blood-soaked clothes of a suspect have also been seized.

He said a special investigation team (SIT) had been set up to probe the case. The SIT headed by inspector Dinesh Chandra Singh has been asked to collect video clips from the ATM from where the money was withdrawn. “This would help the police ascertain the identity of the suspects in the case,” said the SP.

Sources claimed that Lala Chaurasia was earlier booked on similar charges. “Efforts are on to get the statement of Rahul, who is an eyewitness in the incident, recorded under Section 164 of CrPC,” said an SIT member.