Cuttack: Armed criminals robbed a female gold trader and fled with Rs 36 lakh.
Odisha: A major robbery occurred in Cuttack city on Sunday night. A gang of six armed criminals allegedly attacked a female gold trader on National Highway 16 and robbed her of ₹3.6 million in cash. The incident caused a stir in the area. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused.
The incident occurred between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday night near the Taldanda Canal Bridge in Cuttack city. The victim, identified as Pinky Saha, is said to be associated with a jewelry shop. At the time of the incident, she was traveling on a scooter with a jewelry shop employee.
According to reports, Pinky Saha was traveling to Kolkata to purchase gold jewelry. She was scheduled to catch a bus to Kolkata from the bus stop near OMP Square at around 10:30 p.m. She was carrying ₹3.6 million in cash, allegedly related to the gold trade.
According to the complaint, when she reached the Taldanda Canal Bridge, six armed criminals blocked her path. They suddenly surrounded her scooter and attacked her. When the woman tried to resist the robbers, they threatened her with sharp weapons.
It is reported that the criminals attacked the woman with an iron rod and injured her. They then snatched her bag containing ₹36 lakh (approximately $3.6 million). After committing the crime, all the accused fled the scene on a motorcycle.
After the incident, the injured Pinky Saha was found lying on the roadside. Police arrived at the scene and immediately admitted her to the prestigious SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment. She is undergoing treatment under the supervision of doctors.
Upon learning of the incident, the victim’s family members went to the Madhupatna police station and lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
A police team arrived at the hospital and recorded the injured woman’s statement. Police officials have gathered complete information from the victim and have begun efforts to identify the accused. Nearby CCTV cameras are also being examined to trace the activities of the criminals.
Initial investigations suggest that the accused may have carried out a pre-planned reconnaissance and carried out the crime. The manner in which the criminals targeted the woman and attacked her after learning about the large sum of money has prompted the police to investigate the matter from several angles.
Police are also trying to determine whether an insider may have been involved in the robbery, as only a few people could have known about such a large sum of money.
Following the incident, questions have also been raised about security arrangements on the busy National Highway 16. Locals have demanded that police patrolling be increased at night on the highway and major roads to prevent such incidents.
Cuttack police have claimed that the case is being taken seriously and special teams have been deployed to apprehend the accused soon. Police officials say that action will be taken based on clues discovered during the investigation.
This robbery has raised concerns among businessmen and the public in the city. There is an atmosphere of fear, especially among businessmen who frequently travel with large sums of money.
The police are currently investigating the case. The full picture of the incident will only become clear after the arrest of the accused and the recovery of the stolen money.