Armed robbers loot Rs1.3 lakh from bank in Madhepura, flee

Patna: Armed robbers stormed into a branch of Central Bank of India in Madhepura district on Thursday and fled with Rs 1.3 lakh in cash. The incident occurred in the Murho locality under Bharrahi police station limits when three robbers, aged between 20 and 25 years, entered the bank. One robber kept watch outside while the other two entered the premises, threatening customers and staff. They fired two rounds to create panic and forced the manager to open the vault at gunpoint. As there was not a large amount of cash in the vault, the robbers escaped with Rs 1.3 lakh.

Sadar SDPO Pravendra Bharti said, “Upon receiving information, police reached the spot. A bank robbery of approximately Rs 1.3 lakh has been confirmed. Prima facie, three persons were involved in the robbery. CCTV cameras are being scanned to identify the robbers. Raids are being conducted in surrounding areas. Arrests will be made soon.”

According to the bank’s branch manager Shiv Kumar, during the incident one miscreant kept watch outside the bank’s main gate while the other two entered inside. Upon entering, one criminal pushed customers and the security guard aside and fired two rounds to spread panic.

“After this, one miscreant went straight to my cabin and demanded cash at gunpoint. He pressured me to open the vault. Seeing a threat to my life, I was forced to open the vault without resistance, after which the criminals took out the cash kept there and fled immediately. The third accomplice standing outside also fled with them,” the manager added.

The SDPO said preliminary investigation revealed that at the time of the incident, wiring work of CCTV cameras was underway in the bank, due to which the security system was compromised.

The bank branch is located next to the ancestral residence of former CM B P Mandal.