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In a plot straight out of a bank heist movie, robbers decamped with lakhs of rupees from a branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. The robbers brutally beat up the bank officials before making off with the money.
Interestingly, the bank is just 200m away from the local police station. The audacious daylight robbery took place on Thursday at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Bahalda. Five masked robbers stormed into the busy branch at approximately 11:00 am, brandishing firearms and executing their heist with precision.
They made off with the cash after instilling fear among customers and assaulting bank employees. The entire heist was executed within a swift 30-minute timeframe, leaving the employees on edge.
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Assaults and Threats
During the incident, the branch manager and several staff members were physically assaulted. Customers who were also present in the bank at the time faced intimidation as the armed men made off with a substantial sum of money.
Remarkably, the entire operation took less than half an hour to complete.
Concerns Over Security
Despite being a mere 200 meters from the nearest police station, the culprits managed to flee the scene without hindrance. This incident has triggered significant concern regarding the adequacy of security measures at banking institutions throughout the region.
The incident has raised concerns regarding the banking sector's security protocols and the efficiency of local law enforcement, prompting calls for increased vigilance in financial institutions throughout the region.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation to track down and detain those responsible. A police spokesperson assured the public, saying, “We are utilising every resource at our disposal to ensure these criminals are brought to justice.”
Officials are collecting statements from witnesses and reviewing security footage to garner leads on the suspects.
