Daylight Bank Robbery Rocks Manipur: Masked Miscreants Make Off with Rs 18.85 Crore
Ukhrul, Manipur – In an audacious act of daylight theft, masked miscreants executed the biggest bank robbery in Manipur’s history, looting Rs 18.85 crore from a branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB) located in Ukhrul district, 80 kilometres from the state capital Imphal.
The brazen heist unfolded around noon on Friday when a group of masked miscreants, armed with weapons, stormed the bank and took the employees hostage. With the hostages under their control, the miscreants forced the bank staff to open the vaults, from which they proceeded to pilfer a staggering Rs 18.85 crore.
The incident sent shockwaves through the bank, triggering widespread panic among the employees. Upon receiving information about the robbery, police swiftly rushed to the scene and initiated their investigation.
At the time of the robbery, there were approximately 11 employees present in the bank. Remarkably, the masked miscreants refrained from harming any of the employees during the heist.
Police authorities estimate that the miscreants numbered around five individuals. To conceal their identities, they had meticulously covered their faces with cloths before entering the bank. Additionally, they took no measures to alert the police of their intentions before the robbery.
Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the masked miscreants and are currently evaluating all available evidence, including CCTV footage.
Causes and Implications of the Robbery
This audacious bank robbery has raised serious concerns about the security measures in place at banks across Manipur. The incident underscores the urgent need for banks to strengthen their security protocols to prevent such brazen thefts from occurring in the future.
Some have suggested that the robbery may be a sign of increasing terrorism in the region. However, police have not yet confirmed any links to terrorist organizations.
The incident has also caused widespread panic among the residents of Manipur, who fear that similar robberies could occur in the future.
