Godda (Jharkhand): A daylight attempt to rob a bank was foiled on Monday in Jharkhand’s Godda district after swift action by bank staff and security systems, though a security guard was injured in the firing, officials said.
According to police, four armed assailants barged into a branch of Bank of India at Kenchua Chowk in the Mahagama area. To spread panic, the attackers fired at least two rounds inside the premises.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants also tried to snatch the service weapon of the on-duty security guard, Vinod Kumar Singh. During the ensuing scuffle, Singh sustained a gunshot injury. He was given immediate first aid and later shifted to Sadar Hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Bank officials said that upon hearing the gunshots, the manager and staff promptly activated the emergency alarm and secured the locker section. Access to the cash counter and locker rooms was blocked as a precaution, preventing the robbers from accessing any cash or valuables.
Unable to breach the secured areas and faced with alert staff, the attackers fled the scene while firing shots.
A police team from the local station rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area, and launched a search operation under the supervision of senior officers. Raids are being conducted in nearby localities, and CCTV footage from inside and around the bank is being examined to identify the suspects and trace their escape route.
Police noted that the Godda region lies close to the Bihar border, an area often exploited by criminals to evade arrest. Surveillance has been intensified and additional security personnel deployed to prevent further incidents. Officials expressed confidence that the accused would be identified and apprehended soon.
With inputs from IANS