In a brazen daylight attempt to rob the Jharkhand State Rural Bank branch located in Vilaspur market, Garhwa, three masked criminals opened fire, narrowly missing Bank Manager Jitendra Singh Meena. The incident, which unfolded around 2:48 PM today, involved the criminals trying to intimidate customers and staff, leading to chaos in the bank.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trio arrived on motorcycles, with one assailant stationed outside to keep watch while the other two stormed into the bank. They demanded customers and staff remain seated, snatched and discarded a mobile phone from a bank employee, and then entered the manager’s office. When Manager Meena resisted their attempt to grab his mobile, one of the robbers struck him with the butt of a revolver before firing a shot. The bullet ricocheted off a cooler, embedding into the wall, causing the cooler to emit a loud noise, which startled the robbers, leading them to flee the scene.
At the time of the robbery attempt, approximately 20 to 25 customers were in the bank. The robbers escaped on two bikes, with one heading towards Uttar Pradesh and the other towards the city.
Police, led by Aditya Kumar Nayak, the in-charge of the local police station, responded swiftly to the scene. They are currently reviewing CCTV footage and conducting raids to apprehend the culprits. SDPO Satyendra Narayan Singh confirmed the incident, stating that efforts are underway to catch the criminals soon.
This incident has left the community in shock, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures in banking institutions, especially in border areas where swift escapes can be attempted into neighboring states.
