Thieves escaped with Rs5 lakh cash from Bank of India (BOI) branch at Chas in Bokaro during working hours on Thursday noon. The incident came to light in the evening during computing cash, said a bank official.
An FIR was lodged at night at local police station where police are investing into the matter. Following the CCTV footage police are on hunt to the nabbed the criminal. “After watching the CCTV footage we are suspecting that a gang of at least 5 thieves rushed on the cash counter and later one of them entered in the cash counter room from back door,” said a bank staff.
“All four who were on the cash counter hanged the cashier in dispute. Taking advantage of the moment one who entered into the cash room from back door picked-up one bundle of cash which contains Rs5 lakh, kept into a beg and escaped”, added the staff. Same theft incident occurred earlier on 27 July 2002 at Punjab National Bank at Chas branch; that time thieves also escaped with Rs5 lakh, said another bank staff. “We are trying to identify the goons as their faces are not so clear in video footage. The primary probe suggests many loopholes on the part of the bank security,” said the OC.
“Meanwhile, investigations are on to nab the criminals. All entry and exit point were sealed after the incident; would be arrested soon”, he added. Notably, bank robbery incidents are not new for Bokaro city. More than 12 bank robbery and ATM loot incidents were reported in past few years but all incident occurred only in nationalised banks despite tight security arrangement and chained doors (even during the bank working hours).