Masked youth attempts to rob bank customer in Daltonganj, flees empty-handed
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, November 10: A masked youth armed with a country-made pistol barged into a branch of Jharkhand Rajya…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, November 10: A masked youth armed with a country-made pistol barged into a branch of Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank on Aarhat Road in Daltonganj on Monday afternoon and attempted to rob a customer who had withdrawn cash, but fled empty-handed following a commotion inside the bank, police said.
SDPO Sadar Rajesh Yadav said the youth failed in his attempt and escaped without taking any money from the bank or the customer.
According to sources at the bank, the lone assailant had apparently intended to collect a substantial amount of cash in his shoulder bag. However, he panicked when customers and staff raised an alarm, apparently disrupting his plan.
The targeted customer was standing in the queue at the withdrawal counter and had already withdrawn the money when the masked youth allegedly tried to overpower him while brandishing a country-made pistol.
The incident triggered panic inside the bank. Amid the commotion, the youth rushed out of the branch without managing to take any cash, Yadav said.
Country-made pistol recovered at bank entrance
In his haste to flee, the youth dropped the country-made pistol near the bank’s entrance. Police said the weapon was empty, with no cartridge loaded. It has been seized for investigation.
The assailant is believed to be in his mid-twenties. Police personnel from three police stations have been deployed to trace him.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the bank and nearby areas. Although the youth had covered his face, police are closely analysing his physical features and movements to identify him.
Police have not disclosed the amount withdrawn by the customer. No cash was taken from either the bank or the customer during the incident.
Bank security arrangements under scrutiny
The incident has also raised questions about security arrangements at the branch. Police said the bank did not activate an alarm hooter during the attempted robbery. Investigators are also examining whether the branch has an alarm system installed.
Police reportedly did not find any armed or unarmed security guard at the bank at the time of the incident. The absence of a guard at a branch located in a busy commercial area has raised concerns over its security preparedness.
It is also not immediately clear whether the customer had withdrawn the cash through a cheque or a withdrawal slip.
Recent cash-snatching incident
The attempted robbery comes barely a week after a man allegedly snatched Rs 4 lakh from a woman in Daltonganj. Town police subsequently recovered the entire amount and arrested the accused, who was identified as a daily-wage worker.
Following the two incidents, police have stepped up surveillance around banks in Daltonganj. The town has more than a dozen bank branches, including those of Yes Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, besides Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank.
Police are continuing efforts to identify and arrest the youth involved in Monday’s attempted robbery.
