Godda (Jharkhand), March 2: A bank robbery attempt was foiled after armed criminals opened fire at a branch of Bank of India in the Mahagama area of Godda district in Jharkhand on Monday, leaving a security guard injured, police said.
According to officials, four armed men stormed the bank branch located at Kenchua Chowk in Mahagama and fired at least two rounds to create panic among customers and staff present inside the premises.
During the incident, the assailants attempted to snatch the service weapon of the bank’s security guard, identified as Vinod Kumar Singh. In the ensuing scuffle, Singh sustained a gunshot injury. He was immediately given first aid and later shifted to the Sadar Hospital for treatment. His condition is reported to be stable.
Bank officials said that after hearing the gunshots, the manager and staff quickly activated the emergency alarm system and secured the locker section. As a precautionary measure, access to the cash counter and locker rooms was blocked, preventing the criminals from reaching cash or valuables.
Faced with tightened security and the alert response of the staff, the robbers fled the scene while firing shots.
Following the incident, a team from the Mahagama police station rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. A search operation was launched and raids were conducted in nearby localities.
Police said CCTV footage from cameras installed inside and around the bank premises is being examined to identify the accused and determine the route used by them to escape.
Officials noted that Mahagama is located close to the Bihar border, which criminals sometimes use as an escape route. Police have increased surveillance and deployed additional security personnel in the region and expressed confidence that the accused will be identified and apprehended soon.
