Armed Robbers Loot Gold, Cash Worth ₹6 Crore from Hazaribagh Bank

Hazaribagh (IANS): Armed criminals decamped with gold and cash worth over ₹6 crore from a Bank of Maharashtra branch in Barhi town on Friday evening. The daring heist has sparked panic in the region and exposed significant lapses in bank and police security.

The Heist: 20 Minutes of Terror

The gang executed the robbery with surgical precision around 4:00 PM. According to Bank Deputy Manager Raushan Singh, two young men first entered the Hazaribagh Road branch under the pretext of opening a current account. Minutes later, three accomplices joined them.

Once inside, all five men brandished firearms and held staff and customers at gunpoint. When employees attempted to resist, the robbers assaulted the bank manager and other staff members. In a swift 20-minute operation, the gang:

• Seized Keys: Forced staff into a corner and took control of the strong room.
• Looted Gold: Filled bags with approximately four kg of gold (deposited by customers for loans), valued between ₹6 crore and ₹7 crore.
• Stole Cash: Collected ₹5 lakh in liquid cash from the counters.

To ensure a clean escape, the robbers locked the bank from the outside before fleeing the scene, preventing immediate pursuit.

Security Concerns

The Barhi branch opened only seven to eight months ago. The ease with which the criminals accessed the strong room has raised serious questions regarding the facility’s internal security protocols.

Police Launch Investigation

Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar and Barhi SDPO Ajeet Kumar Vimal rushed to the spot with forensic teams.

“We are investigating the matter seriously,” stated SP Aman Kumar. “Police are currently scrutinizing CCTV footage from the bank and surrounding areas to track the suspects.”

SDPO Ajeet Kumar Vimal confirmed that a special task force is now conducting raids at potential hideouts to identify and apprehend the gang.