Broad daylight robbery in financial company, miscreants decamp with booty worth over Rs 10 crore
By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR, NOV.20 : Armed dacoits on Thursday morning stormed into the strongroom of the India Infoland Ltd (IIFL), a private finance company, located at Nayasarak in Odihsa’s Cuttack and decamped with booty worth over Rs 10 crore.
The looted items included several kilograms of gold ornaments and cash of around Rs 5 lakh. As per initial reports, four armed dacoits gained entry into the office of the private finance company after taking the lone security guard and other officials at gunpoint in the busy market place.
The incident took place soon after the company opened for daily business between 10 and 10: 30 AM.
Satya Pradhan, the branch manager said, “We had just opened the office when four armed miscreants stormed inside the premises. They immediately downed the shutter. The miscreants had covered their faces and wore helmets.”
The day-light robbery has raised questions over the security measures in place at the private finance company.
The company is located at Naya Sarak, one of the busiest roads in the city. The particular stretch of the road where the office is located is a hub for trading of gold and a number of jewellery shops line the road.
It appears that the miscreants had conducted a recce of the firm before making the ambush which took everyone by surprise.
Police Commissioner Dr Sudhanshu Mishra, DCP Prateek Singh and several other senior police officers reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.
Cuttack DCP, Prateek Singh said that four masked men entered the bank and looted cash and gold ornaments after locking the staff inside one room. They also snatched the mobile phones of the staff of the private finance company.
“We have formed three special teams and already the investigation has started. We have despatched teams to Kendrapara, Jajpur and Cuttack rural to trace the criminals involved in the loot of cash and gold ornaments,” said Mr Singh.
He said the exact cash and gold looted is yet to be ascertained.
“There was no armed guard nor any alarm systems were being used at the firm. Our teams are on the job and we hope to nab the criminals soon,” he added.
