Inter-state dacoit gang likely involved in series bank loot in Angul: Crime Branch ADG

Angul: The State Crime Branch today informed about a possible link of inter-state robbers with the series bank loot incidents in Angul.

“We think there may be an inter-state dacoit gang link behind the loot incidents at Angul but in case of Nayagarh incident, local criminals are involved. A probe is underway with SP, DIG and SDPO all monitoring the case and we hope to nab the culprits very soon,” Crime Branch ADG Santosh Upadhayay said.

Upadhayay further stated that police is discussing with various stake holders including bank authorities on different ways of crime prevention especially to prevent the lacunae present in the system and to ensure efficiency in both internal and external security.

The ADG today met Angul SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra and North-Central DIG Narasingha Bhola while reviewing the probe in connection with the loot incidents. Later he also enquired on the details of the loot incident at the Andhra Bank branch near Bazaar Chhak.

It is to be noted that on April 6, six men armed with country-made pistols and other weapons looted Rs 23 lakh in cash and jewellery worth over Rs 79 lakh from the Andhra Bank branch in the town. Later that night, some miscreants decamped with an iron-chest from the strong room of SBI at Bantala.

Similarly, at least five motorcycle-borne miscreants decamped with 256 gold packets and Rs 80,000 in cash by holding the staff at gunpoint from Odisha Gramya Bank at Sarangadhara in Nayagarh.