In a bold daylight robbery, armed criminals stole approximately Rs 15 lakh from a Canara Bank branch in Baharagora, Jharkhand. The incident occurred when five to six masked robbers, wielding weapons, entered the bank at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. They frightened employees and customers for about 15 minutes before escaping with cash and valuables.
The robbers, arriving on motorcycles, had some members stand guard outside while others raided the bank. They confiscated mobile phones to prevent communication and threatened the Assistant Branch Manager at gunpoint to open the bank lockers. However, since the branch did not have locker facilities, the criminals took personal belongings from the manager instead.
After failing to access the lockers, the robbers looted the cash counter and room, collecting the money in a bag before fleeing the scene. They locked the bank’s main gate from the outside before leaving, trapping everyone inside. Police arrived later, rescued the trapped individuals, and initiated an investigation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers spoke Bengali while threatening the staff in Hindi. The criminals discarded the seized mobile phones in a nearby field to avoid detection. They also attempted to take an internet device, mistaking it for a hard disk, but the Branch Manager safeguarded the actual hard disk, preserving vital data.
Following the robbery, Ghatsila DSP Ajit Kumar Kujur and a police team responded to the incident after being alerted by locals. Law enforcement is now reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the culprits.
