Rs 26 lakh looted from forest staff

BALANGIR: In a daring daylight robbery, two bike-borne youths looted Rs 26 lakh from forest employees at gunpoint near a bridge close to Loisingha, 20 km from here, on Thursday.The robbers, trailing the Forest department vehicle for about half an hour, intercepted it on the National Highway, brandished arms and fled with the booty. Police have launched a manhunt and have sealed all the routes. SP Awinash Kumar said the role of insiders in the robbery cannot be ruled out. Around noon, the Loisingha kendu leaf division ranger withdrew Rs 26 lakh at noon from the SBI. The miscreants followed the forest staff when they were taking the money from Balangir to Loisingha. The money was to be distributed among the kendu leaf puckers, the SP added. If the staff were to withdraw such huge amount, there should have been proper security or they should have informed the police, the SP said. The kendu leaf ranger, Prabhakar Mishra, has lodged a complaint with  Loisingha police.