Rourkela, Sept. 16: Two motorcycle-borne criminals snatched away cash worth Rs 2.8 lakh from two contractors and injured them in front of the municipality office, 300 metres from Udit Nagar police station, here today.

The contractor brother duo K. Srinath, 35, and K. Rabi, 30, residents of the fertiliser area in the city were returning from a bank around 11.20am after withdrawing cash to pay their labourers, when the criminals intercepted them near the municipality office. One of the goons hit Srinath, who was riding pillion, with a stick from behind. Srinath, who was carrying the money-laden bag, fell down on road and suffered injuries on his head. Rabi fell with the motorcycle a few metres away.

“The criminals then took away the bag containing Rs 2.8 lakh in cash and fled away from the spot on their black motorcycle. Though we shouted for help, no one came forward. We went to Udit Nagar police station and have lodged a complaint,” said Rabi, who suffered injuries on his hand and leg.

Udit Nagar police took the duo to hospital. The police visited the spot and the bank to check the closed-circuit television camera footage. The suspicion is that the criminals were aware that the two had withdrawn money from the bank and they must have followed them from the bank premises.

Rabi said they had provided labourers to a private company in the area, and every month, they withdraw money to pay them. “It had never happened with us earlier. Besides, the road was crowded, so we had never thought that we would be targeted at such a place. They must have followed us for some time. They attacked us when our vehicle slowed down at the road turning near the municipality office,” said the victims.

Following the incident, the police blocked roads and checked motorcyclists at various places in the city. Two months ago, criminals snatched away cash worth Rs 3.4 lakh from a businessman from the same spot. The case is yet to be cracked.