Two bank employees robbed of Rs 80 lakh in Banaskantha

Palanpur:In a daylight heist, five persons snatched Rs 80 lakh from two bank employees at gunpoint after intercepting their vehicle near Dhanera town in Banaskantha district today, police said.

“The incident occurred in afternoon at Ravigam village when the duo, both staff of Banaskantha District Central Cooperative Bank (BDCB), were headed towards Bapla village, situated on Rajasthan border, in a hired Jeep to deposit Rs 80 lakh,” said Banaskantha SP Chirag Koradia.

According to police, the robbers fired one round in air and assaulted Chelabhai Patel and Kirit Vyas, employed as a cashier and a peon, respectively, before decamping with the bag containing the money.

They were referred to civil hospital in Deesa town for treatment.

“The robbers came in their SUV and forced the bank employees to stop their vehicle at Ravigam. They thrashed both the employees and snatched their bag. We have been told that the robbers have also fired one round in air,” Koradia added.

He said the police have sealed all exit points in the district and launched a search operation.