Six SBI ATMs looted in Brahmapur

In a major challenge to the district police, unidentified miscreants in a series of loots robbed as many as six SBI ATM kiosks in Brahmapur city and its nearby areas on Monday night.

The total amount of money robbed was yet to be ascertained.

Reports said unidentified robbers looted more than Rs 5 lakh from an SBI ATM at Haladiapadar under the Golanthara police station in the city by breaking it open with a gas cutter.

The dacoits also looted money from SBI ATMs at Ankuli, Goilundi, Khodasingi, Gosain Nuagan.

Fortunately, their attempt to loot money from an ATM at Gopalpur junction in the district failed as the miscreants spotted a police patrolling party. Although miscreants managed to damage the CCTV camera installed inside the ATM and were about to break open the machine, they fled after spotting a police patrolling vehicle.

According to sources, huge amount of notes was burnt while the dacoits tried to cut open the ATM at Gosain Nuagaon with a gas cutter. Three cash trays of ATMs were also found abandoned near Engineering School Chhak in the town.

“Robbery of ATMs located in such prominent spots is shocking. There were no security guards in any of the ATMs. Besides, the police have to intensify night patrolling to prevent such loots,” said a resident Prakash Swain.

Similarly, another SBI ATM was looted at Kuanarmunda in Rourkela of Sundargarh district on Monday night. Some unidentified miscreants looted around Rs 9 lakh from the ATM machine by breaking it open with a gas cutter, sources said.

Later, on being informed, police and a scientific team rushed to the spot and started an investigation.