BHUBANESWAR: A minor boy’s bravery helped foil a major bank loot in Balianta area on Bhubaneswar outskirts on Tuesday.
Sheikh Aftab (17) was playing cricket with friend when the robbery took place at SBI’s Atalagada branch around 5 pm. Sankara Parida (30), the bank robber, was trying to flee with Rs 8 lakh cash and some ornaments, was chased and overpowered by Aftab.
Police said Parida entered the bank, which located in an apartment, around 4 pm. He then came and waited till the visitors left.
“Around 6 pm he entered the bank when only four staff, including 2 women were present. He brandished a knife and a toy gun before bundling the four staff inside a room. He took Rs 8 lakh cash and around 8 gram of gold from the chest,” a senior officer of the commissionerate police said.
Parida executed the brazen bank robbery alone and was about to flee in his bike that he had parked outside the apartment. One of the hostages (bank staff) raised an alarm following which some locals tried to chase him.
“A group of children were playing cricket near the apartment. Aftab ran after Parida for about 500 metres. Parida fell down from his bike after Aftab hit him with his bat,” the police officer said.
Parida tried his best to run with the cash in a paddy field, but Aftab overpowered him. Other villagers and police reached the spot by the time.
“We came to know Parida belonged to the same Balianta area. His criminal antecedents, if any, are being investigated,” the cop said.
