It seems petrol pumps are becoming soft targets for anti-socials due to absence of armed security personnel and easy availability of cash.
In an example, three bike-borne miscreants allegedly looted cash from an employee of a petrol pump at gunpoint near Panchagaon village under the Tigiria police station in Athagarh block of Cuttack district late on Thursday night.
The robbery was captured in a CCTV camera installed at the filling station. The CCTV footage showed three youths arriving on a bike at the fuel station asking the staff there for petrol. The youth, who was driving the bike, was also seen paying money after filling up the tank. However, suddenly one of his associates brandished a gun and snatched the money bag before speeding away from the spot.
It was yet to be to be ascertained the exact amount of money looted. A case has been lodged at the Tigiria police station. Earlier on Tuesday, a petrol pump employee Manabendra Das was critically injured after three bike-borne miscreants allegedly opened fire at him and looted Rs 6 lakh cash from him near Baladiabandha area under the Sadar police station in Dhenkanal district.