Sambalpur: Major Breakthrough in 30 Kg Gold Robbery Case; Main Accused Arrested with Gold by Hatia RPF
Gold Recovered, One Arrested
Sambalpur: The stolen 30 kg of gold from Manappuram Finance Limited’s Sambalpur branch has been recovered. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested the accused, Ajay Paswan, from Hatia Station while he was carrying the stolen gold on a train. They seized all the gold from him. Later, the RPF handed over the accused and the recovered gold to Sambalpur Police. A senior police officer confirmed this handover.
How the Arrest Happened
Acting on reliable information, the RPF waited at Hatia Station in the evening. As soon as Ajay Paswan appeared, the officers swiftly apprehended him without any resistance.
Details of the Robbery
The robbery took place on the morning of January 3 at around 9 a.m. in the Budharaja branch of Manappuram Gold Loan Bank in Sambalpur. Two men initially entered the branch pretending to inquire about loans. While speaking with the staff, a female employee stepped outside. At that moment, four more robbers armed with guns stormed into the bank.
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The robbers created fear among the employees by threatening them at gunpoint. They physically assaulted the staff and tied them up. The robbers then broke into the locker and stole around 30 kg of gold. The estimated value of the stolen gold was over 20 crore rupees, according to bank officials.
Investigation and Police Efforts
Despite forming four special teams and conducting raids at multiple locations, the Sambalpur Police failed to catch the robbers. However, the RPF successfully recovered the entire stolen gold and arrested Ajay Paswan, identified as the mastermind behind the heist.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities believe Ajay Paswan had accomplices involved in the crime. The police have launched further investigations to locate and arrest the remaining suspects.
