Barpali (Bargarh): In a brazen daylight theft on Wednesday, ₹11.63 lakh was stolen from the storage compartment of a scooter parked near Tahasil Chowk in Barpali in Bargarh district.
The victim, Kshiti Pati Pradhan, a resident of Kadlipali village, had reportedly just withdrawn the cash from the State Bank branch in Barpali.
Police sources said that Pradhan placed the money in the scooter’s dicky and briefly stopped at a shop in Gahir Complex. During this short absence, an unidentified thief seized the opportunity, opened the dicky, and fled with the substantial sum.
Discovering the theft immediately, Pradhan lodged a formal complaint at the Barpali police station. Officers swiftly responded, initiating an investigation at the scene. Key evidence is being sought through the examination of CCTV footage from nearby establishments.
Bargarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Padarabinda Tripathi visited the location to conduct an on-spot assessment and aid the probe.
Authorities have issued a cautionary advisory, urging residents to exercise extreme vigilance when handling large sums of cash and to avoid leaving valuables unattended in vehicles, especially in unsecured compartments.
