Members of a self-help group in Odisha's Balangir district got a rude shock soon after withdrawing money from a bank, when thieves broke into their motorcycle's storage box and made off with Rs 50,000 in a matter of seconds. The theft in Kantabanji town happened while the group had stopped for a quick roadside snack, and the entire incident was caught on nearby CCTV cameras, prompting police to launch an investigation.
Cash withdrawn from the bank, stored in the bike's dickey
According to available information, members of the Triveni Self Help Group from Kuibahal village in Turekela block had gone to the State Bank of India branch in Kantabanji to withdraw funds belonging to their group. After withdrawing Rs 50,000 from their account, they placed the entire amount inside the storage compartment, commonly called the "dickey," of their motorcycle before setting off. The money is said to have been part of the group's collective savings, withdrawn for some essential purpose.
A quick stop for jhalmuri, and the cash was gone
After leaving the bank, the group reached Road Number Two in Kantabanji town and stopped briefly to eat jhalmuri, a popular puffed-rice street snack. While they were eating, four men riding two motorcycles arrived at the spot. It is alleged that the men used a master key to unlock the bike's storage box within seconds, pulled out the Rs 50,000 kept inside, and sped away from the scene. The victims had no idea what had happened, and by the time they realised the money was missing, the accused were long gone.
The gang appears to have tracked the victims from the bank itself
Police believe the accused had been watching the group right from inside the bank premises and followed them the moment an opportunity presented itself, trailing them all the way to the snack stall. The speed with which the storage box was broken into and emptied has led investigators to suspect the theft was carefully planned in advance. CCTV cameras installed in the area recorded the entire sequence of events, giving police crucial visual evidence to work with as they try to trace the culprits.
Police lean on CCTV footage to hunt down the accused
Initial investigation suggests the men behind the theft could be linked to Ganjam district, though police caution that the probe is still ongoing and nothing has been confirmed yet. Following a complaint from the victims, Kantabanji police have registered a case and are working to identify the accused using CCTV footage and other evidence gathered from the scene. Officers are also questioning people in the surrounding area in an attempt to trace the motorcycles used in the theft and the route the accused took afterwards. A detailed investigation into the incident is currently underway, with police expressing confidence that the accused will be arrested soon.
