Dhanbad, May 24: Four unidentified criminals looted cash worth more than Rs 5 lakh from two petrol pump employees at Karbala Road today.

The incident took place around 11.30 am when the two employees, Ashok Sarraf and Ashok Mandal, were on their way to Punjab National Bank to deposit the weekend earnings of the petrol pump.

The victims, employees of Naresh Chawra, had started on a two-wheeler with cash in a briefcase from Karbala Road in the busy Bank More locality.

Saraff was riding the bike, while Mandal was pillion-riding holding the briefcase.

?As soon as we crossed the Chawra Mansion, we realised that another two-wheeler was following us. We tried to speed away but the bike managed to overtake us and stopped us near Gujrati School. As soon as we stopped, two men wearing blue shirts, opened fire and snatched our briefcase But we got down from our bike and chased them. I even managed to catch hold of one of the criminals, who was holding the briefcase. But he managed to wriggle free and escape as my hand was hurt and it was bleeding. The criminals fled towards Bank More police station on Matkuria Road,? said Sarraf.

?They were wearing decent clothes and were speaking in fluent Hindi. Probably it is the handiwork of some inter-state gang,? he added.

A case of loot has been lodged in Bank More police station.