Knife-wielding man holds bank staff captive in Kerala
In a shocking incident that has left authorities and the public alike in a state of shock, an unidentified man wielding a knife held bank officials captive in a toilet before fleeing with a substantial amount of cash in Kerala’s Thrissur district. The daylight robbery took place at Federal Bank’s Potta branch near Chalakkudy, approximately 51 kilometers from Kerala’s commercial capital Kochi, at around 2:15 pm on Friday, February 14th.
According to reports, most of the bank staff were out for lunch when the thief, described as being in his mid-30s, entered the premises. The man, whose identity and motives are still unknown, made his way to the toilet where he locked himself with three bank officials, including a manager.
Eyewitnesses claim that the man, who was wearing a mask to conceal his face, behaved calmly and did not seem to be under the influence of any intoxicating substance. He threatened to harm the officials if they did not comply with his demands, which were to hand over a substantial amount of cash.
The officials, who were understandably terrified, managed to hand over around ₹15 lakh to the thief, who then fled the scene on a two-wheeler. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, which have been seized by the police for further investigation.
The Thrissur police have launched an investigation into the incident and are reviewing the CCTV footage to identify the thief and his accomplices, if any. “We are working to identify the robber and tracing the stolen money,” said a police official.
The bank staff, who were shaken by the ordeal, were taken to a nearby hospital for medical check-ups and counseling. An official from the Federal Bank said, “We are cooperating with the police in the investigation and ensuring the security of our employees.”
This incident has raised concerns about the security measures in place at banks and financial institutions, especially in the wake of recent attacks on banks in other parts of the country. The authorities have been urged to increase security measures, including installing more CCTV cameras, and to provide better training to bank staff on how to handle such situations.
The police have also appealed to the public to come forward with any information that may help in the investigation. The reward for information leading to the arrest of the thief has been set at ₹50,000.
As the investigation continues, the people of Kerala are left wondering how such a brazen robbery could take place in broad daylight. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being vigilant and taking necessary precautions to ensure one’s safety.
