Berhampur: In a daring daylight roberry, two miscreants allegedly drugged the driver and looted Rs 24 lakh from a cash loading van after hijacking the vehicle near an ATM under Bada Bazaar police limits here around 11 am on Wednesday.
According to sources, the incident took place when the van, belonging to cash logistics firm AGS Transact Technologies Ltd, was on its way to load cash in ATMs. The driver was later rescued in an unconscious state and admitted to a hospital in the locality.
The vehicle was allegedly hijacked after the driver along with three other staff of the cash loading firm loaded Rs 2 lakh at an ATM and were proceeding to another kiosk.
“An auto-rickshaw was parked in front of the ATM kiosk. One of our staff asked the driver to move the vehicle from the place. As soon as they went inside the kiosk, two persons pointed a gun at me and forced me to drive. They drugged me after reaching an unknown location. I fell unconscious after that,” said Asish Diggal, the driver of the van.
On finding the vehicle and driver missing, the staff immediately informed the Bada Bazaar police, which later traced the vehicle at Golanthara Girisola, bordering Andhra Pradesh. The driver was found in an unconscious state and the cash missing.
A manhunt has been launched on basis of witness account and other technical evidence.
