Miscreants loot Rs 25 lakh from toll gate employees in Odisha

Armed miscreants looted more than Rs 25 lakh from the employees of a toll gate on National Highway 16 in Odisha's Ganjam district today, police said.

The incident happened at Haridamula under the jurisdiction of Khallikote police station when two employees of the toll gate at Gorapalli, were on their way to deposit Rs 25.30 lakh in a bank at Khallikote, a place near the toll gate, the police said.

Five motorcycle borne miscreants intercepted their vehicle, fired in the air to frighten the toll gate employees and the driver of the vehicle carrying them, snatched the bag full of cash from them and fled the scene, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Chhatrapur, Ramesh Chandra Sethi, said.

Senior police officers, including the Superintendent of Police of Ganjam district, went to the spot after the incident, a police officer said, adding, efforts were on to nab the miscreants.

Police stations in and around the area were put on alert, he said.

They have also been asked to maintain strict vigil on the movement of people and vehicles, the officer said.