Masked miscreants allegedly looted cash over Rs 1.5 crore from an ATM cash van on Godijharia Nua Sadak Road near Kalim Bagicha Rice Mill under Tigiria Police limits of Cuttack district.
According to sources, over eight masked miscreants carrying firearms chased an ATM van in an SUV and motorcycles. They waylaid the van at a secluded place near Kalim Bagicha Rice Mill. As per reports, pointing a pistol, miscreants asked the driver to stop the van. Thereafter, the miscreants fled from the spot with a trunk loaded with cash from the van. The trunk reportedly had cash of over Rs 1.5 crore.
On being informed, Athagarh Police launched a probe and manhunt for the miscreants.
“The money was withdrawn from the Athagarh SBI. Then we went to GIMSAR, Swapneswar, market and then to Godijharia. When we were returning after loading cash in an ATM machine at Godijharia, an SUV stopped in front of us. We were four in the van. Seven to eight masked miscreants got down from the SUV and came to us, all carrying pistols and sharp weapons. They first snatched the rifle from me and then terrified others in the van with sharp weapons. Thereafter, they took the cash trunk and sped away from the spot,” said Ranjan Kumar Dehury, a security guard accompanying the cash in the van.
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Recalling the incident, loader boy, Sanjay Swain said, “Like any other day, we withdrew money from the SBI ATM. After loading cash in ATM machines at Madhapur, Athagarh Bazar, and Godijharia, we were returning when a stone hit our van near the rice mill. As the driver slowed the vehicle, miscreants in an SUV and a bike stopped us and took the cash trunk at gunpoint. Before leaving the spot, they also took away our mobile phones. They were speaking in Odia.”
“We were scheduled to load cash in 13 ATM kiosks. The incident occurred when we had already loaded four ATM machines and nine more were left,” he added.
Informing about the incident, Cuttack Rural SP, Mihir Panda said, “They had already refilled four ATMs and were going to refill the other ATMs. Then they were intercepted by seven to eight criminals in a Scorpio van. They looted the cash trunk at gunpoint. We suspect the trunk had cash of over Rs 1.5 crore. We have formed three teams to investigate the case. They are on the job. Blockings have been put up at different locations. We are in touch with the police in the neighbouring districts.”
When asked about the involvement of the staff, Panda said, “It can’t be ruled out. We are investigating the matter from all possible angles.”