Armed robbers looted more than Rs 8 lakh from two government officials near Mukuna Bazaar under Sadar block while they were carrying welfare funds to Bauripada Panchayat.
Around 9:45 a.m., Panchayat Executive Officer Tushar Jyotishka and Data Entry Operator Abhimanyu Sahu withdrew Rs 8,18,100 from HDFC Bank, Keonjhar, and headed toward the panchayat on motorcycles. A red Pulsar bike followed them unnoticed. Near Mukuna Bazaar, three men on two Pulsar motorcycles blocked their path and demanded the cash bags. When the officials refused, one of the assailants fired a round from his gun, forcing them to surrender the bags.
The robbers fled toward Belda on a red Pulsar bearing registration OD‑02J‑5203. The shaken officials immediately informed the BDO and lodged a written complaint at the Sadar police station.
Police launched an investigation and began tracing the vehicle and suspects. The victims said the attackers spoke in Hindi, suggesting they might be criminals from Bihar.
Authorities have intensified checks across nearby routes and are verifying CCTV footage to identify the culprits.
