Bank robbers on loot spree in Angul

Angul: Hours after the daylight robbery in Andhra Bank, miscreants decamped with an iron-chest from the strong room of SBI at Bantala Friday night.

Though the exact amount of cash stolen is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the thieves aborted their burglary attempt after the emergency siren went off.

Earlier, six men armed with country-made pistols and other weapons looted Rs 20 lakh from an Andhra Bank branch in Angul yesterday.

The robbers had looted cash and other valuables after taking the bank staff and customers hostage at gun point.

Similarly, armed miscreants had also looted gold from another bank in Nayagarh yesterday. The customers today staged a demonstration demanding return of the money and cash deposited in the bank.

Participating in OTV discussion on rise in bank robbery incidents in Odisha, former DG Sanjeev Marik today stated that it is the basic responsibility of bank authorities to strengthen security measures.

"It is a matter of concern why existing security systems fail to function at emergency or crisis situations," said Marik.

Marik further stressed on audit on bank security mechanisms which needs to be conducted at regular intervals in State. Police also needs to be extra cautious in five vulnerable districts- Nayagarh, Angul, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj from where bank loot incidents are reported at regular intervals.