Jamshedpur, Mar 10: Armed criminals carried out a daring daylight robbery at a branch of Canara Bank in Baharagora of East Singhbhum district on Tuesday, looting around ₹15 lakh in cash and valuables after holding bank employees and customers hostage at gunpoint, police officials said.
The incident took place at the bank’s branch in Sakra Panchayat under Baharagora police station limits at around 1:45–2:00 pm, when five to six masked criminals armed with country-made pistols and sharp weapons stormed into the premises.
According to officials, the robbers forced bank staff and customers into a corner while threatening them with firearms and looted cash from the counter.
Branch manager Nanaji Rao said the criminals entered the bank brandishing weapons and terrorised everyone present.
“Criminals entered the bank, brandishing pistols and sharp weapons, and forced employees and customers into a corner while carrying out the robbery,” he said.
Police said the robbers also threatened assistant branch manager Saurabh Verma at gunpoint and demanded that he open the bank locker. However, the rural branch did not have locker facilities.
Angered by this, the criminals snatched Verma’s gold chain and ring and also looted gold chains, rings and mobile phones from customers and staff.
The gang reportedly arrived on three motorcycles, with four members entering the bank and two keeping watch outside. Before fleeing, the criminals seized the mobile phones of those present to prevent them from informing the police and later threw the devices into a nearby field.
After committing the robbery, the criminals locked the bank’s main gate from outside, trapping employees and customers inside before escaping with the cash and valuables.
Police later reached the spot, broke open the lock and rescued those trapped inside the bank.
Ajit Kumar Kujur along with a police team inspected the site and launched an investigation.
According to police officials, the robbers terrorised employees and customers for nearly 15 minutes before fleeing.
Authorities are now examining CCTV footage from the bank and nearby areas and conducting raids and blockades to identify and track down the criminals.
The incident has raised concerns over rising robberies targeting banks and jewellery shops in East Singhbhum district, particularly in smaller towns and panchayat areas where security arrangements are comparatively limited.
