Bethampur: A trader from Kolkata was allegedly robbed of 17 kg silver and Rs 5 lakh in cash while travelling to his hometown in a private bus near Bhejiput Chhak on NH 16 at Khallikote in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Friday night.
The victim has been identified as Mithun Mandal.
According to sources, the incident took place when bus halted at Bhejiput to allow passengers to refresh and have snacks. Mandal stepped out to have tea, leaving the two bags, containing valuables and cash, on his sleeper seat. “I was travelling to Kolkata from Berhampur. I got off the bus at Bhejipur to have snacks. The bags were missing when I boarded the bus again a few minutes later. Some passenger mentioned seeing two men taking my bags,” Mandal claimed.
It is being alleged that four unidentified car-borne miscreants took advantage of the situation and decamped with the bags.
Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into the incident on the basis of a complaint filed by Mandal.
