Armed robbers strike a Phagwara bank in broad daylight, loot Rs 40 lakh

A brazen daylight armed robbery occurred at the HDFC Bank branch in Rihana-Jattan village, situated along the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road, where approximately Rs 40 lakh was looted on Thursday afternoon. According to initial reports, the incident took place around 3.10 pm when three armed men arrived at the bank premises in a white car. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations suggest that two suspects entered the bank while the third remained in the vehicle with the engine running, likely to facilitate a quick escape.

Once inside, the armed assailants confronted the branch manager at gunpoint, forcing him to instruct the cashier, Lovepreet Kaur, to open the secure cash counter. Under duress, the staff complied, and the robbers swiftly gathered the available cash, estimated to be between Rs 38 and 40 lakh. The robbery was executed with precision and speed, reportedly lasting no more than three minutes.

After collecting the cash, the two suspects exited the bank and rejoined their accomplice, who was waiting in the vehicle. The trio then fled the scene in the same white car, heading towards Hoshiarpur. Preliminary leads suggest that the robbers may have entered the area from Damali village.

SSP Gaurav Toora confirmed the robbery and stated that senior officers, including Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti and DSP Bharat Bhushan, had been directed to immediately reach the site and coordinate response efforts. Police teams have launched an intensive investigation, analysing CCTV footage from the bank and surrounding areas to trace the movements of the suspects and identify the vehicle involved.

SSP Toora, who visited the spot himself, said that the accused also snatched three mobile phones from the bank staff, which they threw at different locations while fleeing. He added said that during the search, the police seized three mobile phones from different locations, including Rawalpindi village.

As of the time of reporting, no arrests have been made, and the identities of the suspects remain unknown. Law enforcement authorities have assured that all efforts are being made to apprehend the culprits at the earliest. Additional security measures and advisories have been issued to other financial institutions in the region as a precautionary measure.