A shocking incident of robbery and firing took place late Thursday evening in the Rajnagar police station area of Madhubani district, Bihar. A Punjab National Bank (PNB) employee was shot by criminals and his motorcycle was looted while he was returning home after work.
Bank Employee Attacked While Returning Home
The injured bank employee has been identified as Om Prakash Rai (35), who works at the Punjab National Bank’s Babubarhi branch. According to reports, he had finished his work at the bank and was heading home on his motorcycle on Thursday evening. While he was passing through Belwar Chowk, three criminals riding another motorcycle started chasing him. Realizing that he was being followed, Om Prakash tried to speed up his bike in an attempt to escape. However, during the chase, he lost control of his motorcycle and fell near a brick kiln in Pariharpur.
Criminals Shot Him and Looted the Bike
After Om Prakash fell on the road, the criminals reached him and shot him in the leg. They then snatched his motorcycle and fled from the spot. Police believe that the criminals targeted him thinking that he might be carrying cash in his bag, as he was returning from the bank. However, no cash was found in his possession. Om Prakash Rai is a resident of Barki Tola Murdahi village, which falls under the Babubarhi police station area.
📊 Explainer: Rise of Cyber Fraud and Device Theft in India
India is witnessing a sharp rise in digital theft and cyber fraud. With more people using online banking, UPI, and digital payments, criminals are increasingly targeting citizens through scams, phishing, and mobile theft.
More than 36.45 lakh cyber fraud cases were reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) by February 28, 2025.
The Sanchar Saathi portal has tracked over 26 lakh lost or stolen mobile phones as of January 17, 2025.
The government’s Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) has processed more than 23.02 lakh complaints.
Authorities have blocked over 42 lakh stolen devices and successfully returned around 7.23 lakh mobile phones to users.
- Growth of digital payments and online banking
- Investment scams and fake trading apps
- Phishing calls pretending to be bank or government officials
- Mobile theft leading to misuse of banking apps
The government has launched nationwide awareness initiatives such as the “Cyber Alert” weekly program starting July 2025 to educate citizens about cyber safety and prevent digital fraud.
Police Reached the Spot, Victim Hospitalised
After receiving information about the incident, Rajnagar Police Station Officer Satyendra Kumar reached the location along with a police team. The injured bank employee was immediately taken to Sadar Hospital in Madhubani for treatment. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the bullet hit his femur (thigh bone). Fortunately, his condition is stable and he is out of danger.
Investigation Underway
Sadar DSP Manoj Kumar also reached the hospital and spoke with the injured employee to gather details about the incident. Following the instructions of the DSP, police have launched an investigation and started raids in different areas to identify and arrest the criminals involved in the attack and robbery. Authorities are currently examining the case and collecting evidence to track down the suspects.
