Rs 49 lakh looted from SBI van near Nuagaon

BHUBANESWAR/NAYAGARH: Armed miscreants looted Rs 49 lakh from the staff of State Bank of India’s Nayagarh branch while the cash was being transported to Dasapalla on Saturday afternoon.The anti-socials, who came in a car and were aided by bikers, hurled bombs at the vehicle in which the cash was being transported. The bank staff and driver were injured while the miscreants fled with the cash.The incident occurred near Mahitama village, about 21 km from Nayagarh, at about 12.45 pm. Nayagarh police, who rushed to the spot, traced the two bikes which were used in the crime. The Ambassador car used by the robbers was found abandoned in the neighbourhood.Police said the bank officialswere transporting the cash without intimating the local cops. A security guard of the bank and another staffer were in the vehicle carrying the cash to Dasapallabranch of the SBI. Barely a kilometre from Nuagaon, the miscreants struck with bombs and looted the cash. They left behind their bikes as well as the car and headed into Hatimundia forests.Nayagarh SP Seshadeba Mallick said the bank officials had not intimated the police about the cash transfer.“We had, during a recent meeting, told all the banks to keep the police posted about such remittances so that security can be arranged, but they did not pay heed to it,” he said.Besides, the banks had also been cautioned against using the same vehicle for cash transfer. This suggestion too went unheeded.Police were also investigating the role of local villagers in the incident. No one has been arrested till now.