Armed Robbery at SBI Branch in Karnataka: ₹21 Crore Cash and Gold Looted:

Vijayapura, Karnataka – In a shocking incident that has sent ripples across Karnataka, a major robbery took place at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Chadchan town of Vijayapura district. The heist occurred on Tuesday when three masked men stormed into the bank and made away with ₹1 crore in cash and 20 kilograms of gold, valued at nearly ₹21 crore. A Pre-Planned Robbery in Broad Daylight According to reports, the robbery took place in broad daylight, creating panic among residents and raising serious questions about security arrangements in banks. The three robbers, armed with country-made pistols and knives, entered the SBI branch under the pretext of opening a current account. Once inside, the situation turned tense as they quickly pulled out their weapons and threatened the staff. The branch manager, cashier, and other employees were held at gunpoint and knife-point. The robbers then tied the hands and feet of the staff members and locked them inside a restroom, ensuring there would be no immediate resistance or alarm raised. “Open the Vault or I’ll Kill You” According to the complaint lodged by the branch manager, the robbers were aggressive and threatening. One of the robbers reportedly told the manager, “Take out the cash, otherwise I will kill you.” Fearing for their lives, the staff complied and opened the vaults containing cash and gold. After looting the cash and gold, the criminals fled the scene using a Suzuki EVA vehicle, which had a fake number plate. Preliminary investigations suggest they headed towards Pandharpur in Maharashtra, making it difficult for local law enforcement to track them immediately. Police Launch Massive Manhunt Following the robbery, a case was registered, and a high-level investigation has been initiated. The Vijayapura Superintendent of Police, Laxman Nimbargi, confirmed that a manhunt is underway. “We are leaving no stone unturned in tracing the culprits. Special teams have been formed, and inter-state coordination has been initiated,” he said. The police are currently reviewing CCTV footage, checking highway toll booth logs, and gathering forensic evidence from the crime scene. Teams have also been dispatched towards the Maharashtra border to assist in tracking the suspects. A Disturbing Pattern in Vijayapura This isn’t the first major bank robbery in Vijayapura district in recent times. Just months ago, a heist at Canara Bank’s Managuli branch led to the theft of cash and gold worth over ₹53.26 crore. While that case saw recovery of assets worth ₹39.26 crore and 15 arrests, it underscores a worrying pattern of organized crime in the region targeting financial institutions. Local residents and bank customers are now questioning the adequacy of security protocols at rural and semi-urban bank branches. Many are calling for improved security measures such as armed guards, panic buttons, enhanced CCTV surveillance, and real-time police connectivity. SBI Yet to Release an Official Statement As of now, the State Bank of India has not issued an official public statement regarding the robbery. However, internal sources say the bank is cooperating fully with law enforcement and is also conducting its own internal audit to assess the exact loss and procedural breakdown. Customers of the Chadchan branch are being reassured that their deposits are safe and that the incident involved only the bank’s own assets stored in its vaults.

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