In a daring daylight robbery on a highway near here on Monday, unidentified miscreants decamped with cash of around Rs 60 lakh after opening fire at the vehicle of a toll gate company, which was taking the cash to Baleswar town to deposit in the bank.
The accountant of the company after receiving bullet injuries was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital and subsequently shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
He was identified as Pradeep Jadav (38) and he sustained injuries under his armpit.
According to SDPO Amresh Panda, the miscreants were four in number, including the driver of their vehicle. The incident occurred when three staff members of a toll gate at Sergarh were heading to a private bank in Baleswar town in a car ( make Indica).
“When three staff members of the toll gate managing company were coming in a car, another white car, probably, Indigo make, following them from rear overtook at the Shanti dhaba. After stopping them, the assailants broke open the windshield with an iron rod and then opened fire and snatched a cash bag containing Rs 60 lakh (collection of Saturday second half and Sunday). later, they sped away towards Haldipada,” said Panda, adding two rounds were fired by them.
“The probable entry and exit points are being sealed and strict watch is being maintained,” he added.
The mishap interestingly occurred barely 150 metres far from the Sadar police station.
It may be recalled last month two incidents of robbery in the highway near Khantapara police station , within 2 km from the latest crime spot, had occurred, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. The perpetrators are still at large in the two cases.
“A case has been registered under Section 394 (robbery), 307(attempt to murder) and 34(common intention) of IPC, besides 25 and 27 of Arms Act. The case is being investigated from various angles,” said Sadar police station IIC Dayanidhi Das.