Sambalpur: Gangs of robbers are active again in Sambalpur, robbed 11 lakhs in the broad daylight
Sambalpur: Robbery gangs have returned to the city. They have been observed targeting people who withdraw money from banks. While 2 lakh rupees were stolen near the State Bank, Ainthapali, another 11 lakh rupees were stolen from a businessman in front of the District Hospital on one of Sambalpur’s busiest roads yesterday afternoon.
According to information received, Mohammad Jisan of Mothijharan, Dhanupali police station owns an ‘AC’ repair shop in front of DHH. He came to the shop on a bike at 1 o’clock on Tuesday. He kept the bike in front of the shop and was going to unlock the shop. Just then, 2 miscreants robbed him of the money in a leather bag on his bike dicky and fled away. One of the crooks started the bike while the other stole the money in the blink of an eye. Jisan saw this and screamed. He tried to catch the robbers. Some other youths who were present at the scene heard Jisan’s screams and chased the robbers headlong to the modipara water tank. However, they failed to catch the speeding robbers. According to Jisan, he had Rs 11 lakh in his bag.
He already had some money with him when he withdrew money from two banks on Tuesday. After he lodged a written complaint at the town police station, the police started an investigation. Sadar SDPO Pradeep Sahu along with town police officer Prakash Karn checked the CCTV at various places and said that excavations are continuing on the basis of the footage. Some people have been detained and questioned on the suspicion of looting. However, he said that he suspected that the crooks were following him after withdrawing the money from Bank. Due to this, it is rumored that the miscreants managed to escape with the bag of money in the blink of an eye. The scene of looting and fleeing away was also captured on the CCTV camera.
Last January, 15 lakh rupees were looted from a lawyer near Gengutipali Shiva temple in a similar fashion. While he was withdrawing money from the bank, the accused, who were chasing him, snatched the bag full of money from him. However, the police managed to nab them, a bit late. It is evident from yesterday’s robbery near the State Bank of Ainthapali and today’s incident that the robbers targeting people who are taking money from the bank have become active again. Earlier, the police was employing police personnel from the bank premises. Police personnel was keeping an eye on the suspect. As a result, such incidents of money robbery have decreased in the city, but due to the inaction of the police, such incidents have started again.