Patna, March 18: Rohtas superintendent of police (SP) Manu Maharaj today suspended the station house officer (SHO) of Nokha police station and sought an explanation from the circle inspector in connection with the heist at Nokha branch of Bank of Baroda.

The Rohtas SP said the Nokha SHO, Arun Kumar Akela, was suspended for dereliction of duty. Ranjeet Kumar Singh, a sub-inspector, has been asked to assume charge of SHO with immediate effect.

Circle inspector of Nokha Raj Kumar Singh has been served a show cause notice. “The reply of the police officer concerned is awaited,” Maharaj said, adding he would not tolerate any laxity on the part of the cops in the district.

“Raids are on to apprehend the criminals involved in the incident,” the SP said.

The bank is located at stone’s throw distance from the Nokha police station. “The SHO was not in the police station at the time of the incident despite instructions to all SHOs to keep a close surveillance on business establishments in the run-up to the festival of Holi,” a police officer said. A special police team led by deputy inspector-general, Shahabad range, Shushil Khopde has been constituted to crack the case.

A team of police officials attached with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the state police headquarters has been sent to Rohtas to assist the district police in the investigation. Sources said director-general of police Neel Mani had directed the CID officials to compile the list of the gangs involved in major bank dacoities in the state in the past five years.