Odisha Police Arrests Two People linked to Bank Robbery in Mayurbhanj

The Odisha Police have arrested two people linked to a bank robbery in Mayurbhanj district. The robbery took place on February 20, and the arrests were made after a detailed investigation. Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police (SP) Varun Guntupalli provided updates on the case.

According to the police, on the morning of February 20, around 10:15 am, five armed robbers entered a bank branch in Bahalda. They wore helmets and masks to hide their identities. The robbers, armed with guns and knives, threatened the bank staff and customers.

They stole ₹20 lakh in cash at gunpoint and assaulted the branch manager and other employees. The robbers then locked the staff and customers in the bank’s strong room, closed the main gate from the outside, and fled the scene.

In their attempt to cover their tracks, the robbers also damaged the CCTV system, destroying the hard disc that stored footage of the crime.

After the robbery, it was discovered that the suspects had fled to Jharkhand, passing through Badanarayani village in the Tiring police station area. During a search, the police found a knife and a pair of black sunglasses belonging to the suspects along the roadside.

To investigate further, the police set up three teams. While reviewing CCTV footage from a similar robbery attempt in Baripada town, they noticed similarities between the two cases. In the earlier incident in Baripada, the suspects had failed to steal money, but the pattern was similar.

The police teams then coordinated with different police stations in Jharkhand, including the Central Jail in Ghagidihi, Jamshedpur. This led to the identification of two main suspects: Pappu alias Rajeev Ranjan and Santosh alias Pramod Bind, both from Bihar.

The police showed photographs of the suspects to local villagers, and Rajeev Ranjan was recognized. Working with the Special Task Force from Patna, Odisha Police were able to track down and arrest both suspects in Patna.

During the investigation, the police recovered ₹14 lakh from Pappu’s rented house and ₹1.19 lakh from Santosh. The case is still under investigation, and the police are working to arrest the remaining suspects involved in the robbery.

The police assured that they are taking all necessary actions to bring the remaining culprits to justice.