Bhubaneswar: Eight masked men armed to the teeth on Friday allegedly waylaid an ATM cash van and looted cash over Rs 1.5 crore at Godijharia Nua Sadak Road in Odisha’s Cuttack district.
According to sources, the miscreants carrying firearms chased an ATM van in a car and motorcycles. They waylaid the van at a secluded place near Kalim Bagicha Rice Mill.
As per reports, pointing pistols, miscreants asked the driver to stop the van. Thereafter, the miscreants fled from the spot with a trunk loaded with cash from the van. The trunk reportedly had cash of over Rs 1.5 crore.
On being informed, the local police launched a probe and manhunt for the miscreants.
“The money was withdrawn from the State Bank of India (SBI), Athagarh. Then we went to Swapneswar market and then to Godijharia. When we were returning after loading cash in an ATM machine at Godijharia, an SUV stopped in front of us. There were four people in the van. Seven to eight masked miscreants got down from the SUV and came to us, all carrying pistols and sharp weapons. They first snatched the rifle from me and then terrified others in the van with sharp weapons. Thereafter, they took the cash trunk and sped away from the spot,” said Ranjan Kumar Dehury, a security guard accompanying the cash in the van.
Recalling the incident, loader boy Sanjay Swain said, “Like any other day, we withdrew money from the SBI ATM. After loading cash in ATM machines at Madhapur, Athagarh Bazar, and Godijharia, we were returning when a stone hit our van near the rice mill. As the driver slowed the vehicle, miscreants in an SUV and a bike stopped us and took the cash trunk at gunpoint. Before leaving the spot, they also took away our mobile phones. They were conserving in Odia.”
“We were scheduled to load cash in 13 ATM kiosks. The incident occurred when we had already loaded four ATM machines and nine more were left,” he added.
Informing about the incident, Cuttack Rural superintendent of police (SP) Mihir Panda said, “They had already refilled four ATMs and were going to refill the other ATMs. Then they were intercepted by seven to eight criminals in a Mahindra Scorpio van. They looted the cash trunk at gunpoint. We suspect the trunk had cash of over Rs 1.5 crore. We have formed three teams to investigate the case. They are on the job. Blockings have been put up at different locations. We are in touch with the police in the neighbouring districts.”
When asked about the involvement of the staff, Panda said, “It can’t be ruled out. We are investigating the matter from all possible angles.”
