A bus, on its way from Contai in West Bengal to Paradip, was waylaid by armed robbers early today near the Tikarpaga traffic junction of NH-5(A), about 40 km from here with the miscreants robbing the passengers of cash and gold jewellery.
The bus robbery of this nature was the first of its kind to have taken place in the district, the police said.
The gang had blocked the highway by placing stones forcing the bus to halt. As soon as the vehicle stopped, criminals brandishing weapons forced their way inside. They beat up the crew of the bus and snatched away about Rs 70,000 cash from them, the police said.
Later they beat up some passengers who tried to resist and robbed their cash and gold jewelleries. Of the 43 passengers, there were 19 women from West Bengal, said Inspector Marshaghai police station, Sukant Kumar Patra.
A case has been registered at the Marshaghai police station and a hunt is on for the robbers, he said.
