By IANS,
Visakhapatnam : A gang of armed men looted Rs.1.5 million from a bank in broad daylight in this costal city Tuesday, the police said.
Five armed men barged into the branch of State Bank of India in Vasalakshi Nagar neighbourhood and escaped with the money after threatening the bank employees and customers.
The cashier sustained injuries when the robbers assaulted her to force her into opening the cash room, the police said.
Five men, including four armed with firearms, entered the bank minutes after it opened for the day.
According to eye witnesses, they threatened the employees and customers with dire consequences if they raised an alarm.
They forced the cashier, a woman, to open the cash room and part with the cash. “They also assaulted her with a sharp-edged weapon to force her to act fast. She sustained injuries but her condition is out of danger,” said a police officer.
The robbers also looted Rs.20,000 from a customer before escaping in a car.
Police officials with dog squads reached the crime scene to gather clues.
Eye witnesses told the police that the robbers were aged between 30 to 35 years and were speaking Hindi.
All police stations in the city and check posts on the outskirts were alerted. The police suspect that the robbers might have fled towards Srikakulam or Vijiyanagaram.