PATNA: Armed criminals looted more than Rs 39 lakh from a cash van after shooting a private guard dead in front of Axis Bank near Bata Chowk in Bihar's Madhubani district on Friday afternoon.
The deceased guard was identified as Shivkumar Rai (56) of Pandaul.
He died while he was being taken to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.
Following the incident, Madhubani SP Satya Prakash and other senior police officers reached the spot for investigation.
The SP asked police officers to seal the borders of the district and carry out raids and vehicle checking to nab the criminals.
The incident was reported at around 1pm.
The SP told TOI over phone that at least three suspects have been picked up by police.
“Raids are going on at several locations to nab those involved in the loot. There were at least five criminals. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera,” he said.
Prakash said that the money was brought from the LIC office to Axis Bank branch.
“The cash van staffers were about to take the money inside the branch when the criminals targeted the vehicle. They fired several rounds and fled after looting the money,” he said.
Prakash also said that the guard was initially taken to Madhubani Sadar Hospital from where he was referred to DMCH was could not survive.
A police officer said that at least five to six rounds were fired on the van from close range soon after it stopped and staffers and the guard opened gates to disembark.
“Several empty cartridges have also been seized from the spot. The guard was armed but he didn't even get a chance to retaliate,” he said.
