Old-age pension money 'looted' from PEO in Odisha

Three unidentified miscreants allegedly looted Rs 4.64 lakh from a Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) at Dandara on Kantabanji-Bangomunda road in Bolangir district on Tuesday.

The money was reportedly meant for distribution of monthly old-age pension to the beneficiaries of Bangomunda panchayat.

As per reports, the PEO Satya Kumar Ghivela withdrew Rs 4.64 lakh cash from a State Bank of India branch at Bangomunda and was returning home to Kantabanji with an associate on a bike when the incident happened.

As per Ghivela’s allegations, he was chased by three bike-borne miscreants on his way back. The miscreants dashed his bike near Dandara and looted the cash from the side box of the bike after Ghivela and his associate fell down.

Ghivela sustained minor injuries in the incident. He was admitted to Bangomunda hospital for treatment.

Though the police have launched a probe, no comments were received about the investigation till now.