A DARING daylight robbery at a branch of Bank of Maharashtra in Waidhan has triggered panic and raised serious concerns over law and order in the district. According to police, five unidentified armed miscreants stormed the bank around 1 pm on Friday and executed the robbery at gunpoint. The accused fled with approximately 9–10 kg of gold, estimated to be worth around Rs 10–15 crore and around Rs 15 lakh in cash. The gold reportedly belonged to customers and was kept in a locker against loan pledges. Surprising is the fact that there was no security guard deployed at the bank premises. During the robbery, the assailants held staff and customers hostage, creating panic inside the bank. The manager was allegedly assaulted when he hesitated to cooperate and the gang forced open the locker before escaping within 15 minutes using bags to carry the loot. Superintendent of Police Manish Khatri reached the spot soon after the incident and all exit points in the city were sealed.

 

CCTV footage is being closely examined and a multistate probe has been launched with assistance from neighbouring states. Senior officials have directed immediate arrest of the accused and strict measures to curb crime. Meanwhile, angry residents have demanded stronger policing and increased patrolling, citing a rise in criminal incidents in the area. Inspector General of Police, Rewa, Gaurav Rajput and Deputy Inspector General, Hemant Chauhan rushed to Singrauli to assess the situation and review the police response. Their visit underscores the gravity of the incident, which took place in a busy area of the city. IN prima facie of the investigation, police learnt that the robbers quickly overpowered the staff and forced everyone to remain seated. The gang assaulted the bank manager when he hesitated to hand over the keys and information about the cash and locker. He was struck on the head with a gun butt. Police said the robbers targeted a locker containing pledged gold belonging to customers, which had been kept against loans. The gang carried backpacks and a large cloth bag to collect the valuables before fleeing within about 15 minutes. Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, Kailash Makwana reportedly leave for Singrauli. Police have launched a multi-state investigation with assistance from neighbouring states. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the culprits.