Dacoits loot bank in Jharsuguda
2
Jharsuguda: Three armed dacoits looted cash from Odisha Grameen Bank at Bhikampali in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district on Monday.
According to police, the incident occurred around 1.40pm when four customers were present inside the bank.
Three unidentified miscreants, wearing helmets and brandishing firearms, stormed into the premises, looted cash, and also took mobile phones from people.
They reportedly fled with around Rs 50,000 in cash; however, the exact amount is yet to be ascertained.
Bipin Sahu (47), a grocery shop owner and regular customer of the bank, recounted the harrowing experience. "At around 1.45pm, I went inside the bank to deposit money.
As I was stepping out, I saw three men wearing helmets and holding guns enter. They asked me to go back inside. We followed their instructions quietly as they were armed," said Sahu.
"They seized everyone's mobile phones, though I managed to hide mine under a seat," he added. "All three were speaking in a mix of Lariya and Odia. Two of them were well-built, and one was slim. One of them wore spectacles beneath his helmet," Sahu further said.
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The bank manager, whose mobile phone was not taken, immediately alerted the Rengali police. Following the incident, the police sealed border routes between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, as well as roads leading to Sundargarh. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the culprits.
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