Begusarai: In a daring daylight robbery, miscreants looted Rs 20 lakh from an HDFC Bank branch in Begusarai on Thursday morning. The brazen incident occurred around 11 a.m. when five individuals entered the bank premises posing as customers, only to swiftly take the staff hostage at gunpoint.
Within a span of just 10 minutes, the robbers seized the cash and fled the scene. It is reported that a currency chest containing Rs 2 crore had been dispatched to the bank just three minutes before the criminals arrived, potentially averting a larger-scale theft.
The commotion inside the bank alerted passersby, who promptly notified the police. The robbery unfolded at the HDFC Bank located at Mahadev Chowk.
During the ordeal, the assailants assaulted the bank staff, with one wearing a helmet and the rest donning masks. Their swift entry and aggressive actions left bystanders stunned. Witnesses recounted how the robbers brandished weapons and issued threats of violence, warning against any resistance.
Anita Devi, a customer present during the robbery, described the harrowing experience as the perpetrators ordered everyone to remain seated while they demanded access to cash and vaults. Despite the fear-inducing atmosphere, the criminals refrained from targeting customers directly.
Upon receiving news of the incident, DIG Rashid promptly arrived at the scene to initiate investigations. Customer Govind, who witnessed the events unfold, recalled the young age of the assailants, estimating them to be in their early twenties. He recounted how they systematically looted the counter while resorting to violence against staff members who resisted.
SP Manish Kumar addressed journalists, confirming the preliminary findings of the robbery amounting to Rs 20 lakh. He affirmed that a thorough investigation was underway to apprehend the perpetrators and shed further light on the incident.
