Rs 52 lakh looted from Patna PNB branch

PATNA: Unidentified armed criminals looted Rs52.33 lakh from the Anisabad branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB) under Beur police station in Patna on Monday. The incident took place around 3.40pm when the employees of the bank located between Anisabad Mor and Beur turning were dealing with the customers.
The criminals had covered their faces with masks. They held the staff and customers captive at gunpoint and collected the cash from counters and bank chest.
Two unarmed constables on duty in the bank, along with customers and employees, were locked inside the washroom.The criminals thrashed a few customers for ignoring their diktats to hand over the cash in their possession.
The criminals were in the 20-25 years age group. They had parked their motorbikes on the bank premises. While eight to 10 criminals entered the bank, a few others were on the road to keep a watch on any police movement. Both Beur police station and the police checkpost at Anisabad turning are a stone’s throw from the bank.
“The operation lasted for about eight minutes. The criminals damaged the DVR of the CCTV before leaving with cash stuffed in several bags. The police recorded the statements of the manager and employees,” said an investigating officer.
Branch manager Ravindra Pandit told the police he was made hostage and forced to open the shelf with keys. “I had no option as the criminals had weapons and they threatened to shoot me,” a police officer quoted the manager as saying.
Senior police officers, including IG (Patna range) Sanjay Singh, SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma and DSP (Phulwarisharif) Sanjay Pandey rushed to the spot. When contacted, IG Singh said, “It’s quite surprising as to why the bank officials didn’t blow the siren. The bank is located in one of the busiest localities. Had an alert been sounded, the dacoits would not have escaped with consummate ease.”
He said a special investigation team (SIT) has been set up under City SP (West) Ashok Mishra. The police collected the CCTV footage from the nearby shops.
According to the preliminary investigation, Rs52,33,500 was looted from the bank, in addition to some cash from the customers. The security guard of the bank was on duty at the ATM. “Mujhe to pata hin nahi chala,” a police officer quoted the bank’s security guard as saying.