Cuttack: Armed dacoits stormed into the strong room of the India Infoland Ltd (IIFL), a private finance company, located in the Nayasarak area of Cuttack and looted cash and gold ornaments worth several crores of rupees on Thursday.
Though the exact amount of the loot is yet to be ascertained, sources said the value of the cash and gold ornaments would be anything around Rs 10 crore.
As per initial reports, four armed dacoits gained entry into the office of the private finance company after taking the lone security guard and other officials at gunpoint in the busy market place.
The incident took place soon after the company opened for daily business between 10 and 10: 30 am.
Satya Pradhan, the branch manager said, "We had just opened the office when four armed miscreants stormed inside the premises. They immediately downed the shutter. The miscreants had covered their faces and wore helmets."
Pradhan further said the miscreants have looted cash worth around Rs 4.5 lakhs and gold worth nearly Rs 8 to 10 crores. "Only after audit, we could say how many gold has been looted," he added.
Nevertheless, the day-light robbery has raised questions over the security measures in place at the private finance company.
It is pertinent to mention here the company is located at Naya Sarak, one of the busiest roads in the city. The particular stretch of the road where the office is located is a hub for trading of gold and a number of jewellery shops line the road.
It appears that the miscreants had conducted a recce of the firm before making the ambush which took everyone by surprise.
Senior officials from the Commissionerate Police including DCP, Prateek Singh and others have reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.
Cuttack DCP, Prateek Singh said that four masked men entered the bank and looted cash and gold ornaments after locking the staff inside one room. They also snatched the mobile phones of the staff of the private finance company.
"We have formed three special teams and already the investigation has started. We have despatched teams to Kendrapara, Jajpur and Cuttack rural to trace the criminals involved in the loot of cash and gold ornaments," said Singh.
Singh said the exact of cash and gold looted is yet to be ascertained. There was no armed guard who has been assaulted and threatened at gunpoint by the miscreants. The alarm system was not being used at the firm. "Our teams are on the job and we hope to nab the criminals soon," he added.