Samastipur Shocker: Armed Gang Loots Bank CSP, Mob Violence Erupts
Armed men loot Rs 3 lakh from a Bank of Baroda CSP in Samastipur, leading to a violent clash between villagers and suspects.
A daring daylight heist at a Bank of Baroda Customer Service Point (CSP) in the Samastipur district has triggered a wave of public outrage and violent clashes. Armed robbers managed to loot Rs 3 lakh from the facility, but their escape turned into a chaotic struggle as local residents intervened, leading to the capture of one suspect and injuries to several people, including police officers.
The Heist: Posing as Customers
The incident unfolded near Saraswati Chowk in the Surauli Chowk area, falling under the jurisdiction of the Vibhutipur police station. The CSP operator, Vivek Kumar, a resident of Surauli Ward 4, was busy processing transactions when four men arrived on foot. Posing as ordinary customers, the group entered the premises and swiftly locked the grill to trap the operator inside.
The situation turned menacing as the perpetrators held Vivek Kumar at gunpoint, demanding all the cash available. In a bid to eliminate evidence and intimidate the victim, the robbers dismantled the CCTV cameras and attempted to fire their weapons during the robbery.
Villagers Fight Back
The robbers' plan hit a snag when Vivek Kumar's cries for help alerted nearby shopkeepers and residents. Brave locals rushed to the scene and engaged in a physical scuffle with the gang. During the struggle, the suspects panicked; two of them fled the scene in such haste that they left behind their footwear, two country-made pistols, and a single bullet.
While the four suspects initially managed to escape the immediate vicinity, the vigilance of the local community paid off. Some children spotted one of the suspects hiding in an orchard near the river, alerting the villagers who promptly captured him.
Chaos and Mob Fury
The capture of the suspect sparked an escalation of tensions. An angry crowd assaulted the detained man before the police could take control. In the ensuing mayhem, three YouTubers who were present at the scene were also injured.
The volatility continued even after the police arrived. As Vibhutipur SHO Sunil Kumar Jha and Rosera DSP Sanjay Kumar Sinha attempted to transport the suspect to the station, a mob surrounded the police vehicle at the Shahpur bridge. The crowd assaulted the officers, leaving Sub-Inspector Tipu Kumar injured in the clash. Despite the resistance, the police eventually secured the suspect and reached the station.
Recoveries and Ongoing Manhunt
Upon searching the captured suspect at the police station, officers discovered two additional bullets in his pockets. DSP Sanjay Kumar Sinha confirmed that the police have recovered the looted cash, two country-made pistols, and a total of three bullets.
While one suspect is in custody, the police are currently conducting intensive raids to track down and apprehend the remaining three absconding members of the gang.