Rs 23 lakh looted from two banks in Bengal

Siliguri, Feb 9 (UNI) Miscreants decamped with nearly Rs 23 lakh cash from vaults of two banks, including a nationalised bank in two districts of West Bengal, police said.

Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) R J S Nalowa said yesterday the unidentifed burglars entered into the unguarded Gour Gramin Bank at Hematabad in North Dinajpur and decamped with about Rs 19 lakh cash from a vault on Thursday night.

He said the matter was reported to the local police station by the Branch Manager when he found the vault open this morning.

Mr Nalowa said most of the gramin banks in rural parts of the state have no security system during the night.

In a separate bank loot case, about five dacoits robbed Rs 3.83 lakh in cash from Uco Bank, Liluah branch, in Howrah district, last morning.

Superintendent of Police Niraj Singh said the gang had entered soon after the bank opened for business and forcibly took keys of a cash vault after beating the manager and decamped with the booty.

Before fleeing, the decaoits beat a policeman on duty and snatched away his service revolver.

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