Bhubaneswar, 12 June (H.S.): A daring daytime robbery has shaken the mining town of Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, where a group of five armed men looted the Odisha Grameen Bank, escaping with nearly ₹10 lakh in cash and a substantial quantity of gold ornaments.
The incident occurred during business hours, leaving staff and customers in a state of panic. According to eyewitnesses, the robbers stormed into the bank wielding firearms and threatened employees before forcing them to hand over the money and gold. The heist unfolded swiftly, leaving little time for response.
“The scene was terrifying. Everything happened so fast that people couldn’t even react,” said a local resident who witnessed the commotion.
Local authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the incident. Teams from the Joda Police Station are analysing CCTV footage, collecting forensic evidence, and recording statements from witnesses to identify and apprehend the culprits.
“This appears to be a well-planned robbery. We are pursuing every lead and are confident of making arrests soon,” said Joda PS in-charge Ravi Das while speaking to the media.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
