Muzaffarpur, Sept. 20: Armed criminals looted Rs 3.61 lakh from North Bihar Regional Rural Bank (NBRRB) in Rampurhari village under Minapur police station last night.

Five robbers with sharp-edged weapons and iron-cutters broke the gate of the bank and sneaked inside to loot the bank. The bank is housed in a private building and there was no night guard.

Talking to The Telegraph, the deputy superintendent of police (East) Shibli Nomani said that three suspected criminals Bhigan Rai, Mitu Singh and Bijay Rai of adjoining Chhapra village have been detained for further interrogation following their alleged involvement in the incident.

Station house officer (SHO) of Minapur police station Jitendra Prasad said: “The villagers suspected some foul play had occurred last night when they saw a few people loitering in the vicinity of the bank. The villagers were already in a state of fear following influx of Maoists in the said village and its adjoining areas in recent times.”

He added that no one dared to enquire about anyone last night. Villagers in the morning saw the locks of the bank gate were broken and the doors open.

Thereafter, the villagers informed the bank officials, who rushed to take stock of the situation. Officials of the bank including cashier S.K. Verma informed the police station about loot.

The SHO said that three village guards (choukidars), who were deputed by the Minapur police to keep vigil on the bank at night were absent from duty on the night of the incident.

Villagers had complained against the three village guards to the DSP. The DSP has decided to initiate departmental proceeding against them for their negligence, which led to the loot.

Police also recovered a few iron tools that were used by the robbers to break the locks of the gate from the spot of the incident.

Police have quizzed a few villagers and a village guard to trace any involvement of youths in the incident.

The SHO confirmed that the criminals looted Rs 3.61 lakh.