While above Rs 50 lakh was looted from the Beheramal branch of Bank of India in Jharsuguda town at around 2 PM, three persons took away about Rs 5 lakh from the UCO Bank at Motanga in Dhenkanal district, they said.
Both incidents took place between 2 PM to 3 PM, the police said adding about six-seven armed and masked persons came on motorcycles and entered the BOI at Jharsuguda.
Armed with pistols and knives, they first overpowered bank employees and put them inside a room before taking away cash from both the counter and the strong room, said Khirasagar Nayak, Inspector In-charge of Jharsuguda police station.
The Police have sealed all exit points of the industrial town to prevent the miscreants from escaping.
In another incident, above Rs 5 lakh cash were looted by three miscreants from UCO bank, Dhalapur branch, in Dhenkanal district at gun point.
"Two of a three-member group entered the bank and threatened the employees at gun point. They left the place after the crime. However, the police have recovered Rs 1 lakh from near the bank building," said Nikhil Kanodia, SP, Dhenkanal.