Filling station staff shot at; Rs 8 lakh cash looted

Dhenkanal: Two unidentified miscreants fired at an employee of a petrol pump near Balaramprasad village on National Highway-55 and looted Rs 8 lakh cash from him this morning.

Reports said Pratap Prusty, an employee of Nilamadhab Filling Station at Gudiakateni, was going on a bike to the State Bank of India (SBI)’s branch at Hindol Road to deposit Rs 8 lakh in cash when two bike-borne miscreants came from behind and opened fire at them. As Pratap, who sustained bullet injuries on his right thigh, fell down from the vehicle, the miscreants snatched his cash bag and fled the area with his bike.

The incident took place at about 10.30 AM.

Hearing the gunshots, locals rushed to the area and took Pratap to the district headquarters hospital where the doctors referred him to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after his condition became critical.

Following the incident, police has begun a manhunt to nab the miscreants.