Ara – A robbery involving Rs 15 lakh took place at Axis Bank in Ara in Bhojpur district within a swift 14-minute window on Wednesday. At approximately 10:15 in the morning, a group of 7 to 8 criminals entered the bank on Circuit House Road, disguising themselves as customers. The bank’s shutter was promptly closed from the inside, and 12 bank staff members were taken hostage.
The criminals seized mobile phones, subjected employees to physical assault, and confined them to the canteen. Amidst the chaos, an employee managed to activate the siren.
Within 15 minutes, a robust response ensued, with over 150 policemen, including SP Pramod Kumar, arriving at the scene. A specialized team from Bhojpur police also joined the operation, surrounding the bank strategically. Some officers positioned themselves on the roof, armed with rifles and pistols.
For the next 30 minutes, the police attempted to negotiate a surrender through announcements. However, just moments before the police intervention, the criminals restrained the staff in the canteen and absconded with the cash.
A police unit entered through the pantry, rescuing the confined employees. Miraj, one of the employees emerging from the bank, reported that there were 7 to 8 armed criminals inside, two of whom were still in the canteen. The miscreants had seized their mobile phones, assaulted them, and locked them in the pantry, expressing intentions to reach the locker.
Upon lifting the shutters and entering the bank, the police discovered two additional employees but found no trace of the criminals. The miscreants, unable to access the locker, made off with the Rs 15 lakh from the counter. The police are reviewing CCTV footage to aid in their investigation.
The initial entry by the criminals involved them posing as individuals seeking to open a bank account, ultimately executing the swift and calculated robbery. The city is now under increased vigilance, with authorities implementing check points to capture the culprits. The scrutiny of CCTV cameras at the bank and Chowk intersection is underway to gather further evidence for apprehending the criminals.
