The spot at Nayapally where Rs 4 lakh was looted from a person on Monday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 11: Two motorcycle-borne youths today snatched away around Rs 4 lakh from the employee of a micro-finance company beside the Stewart School near CRP Square.

This was the third incident of loot in capital city in the past six days.

Debarchan Abardha, a project coordinator of a micro-finance agency, had come to withdraw money from a private bank at CRP Square. After withdrawing Rs 3.86 lakh from the bank he was returning to his office at Kalinga Vihar on his motorcycle.

“I was in front of the fish market beside Stewart School, when I noticed two youths on a black motorcycle. Suddenly, the pillion rider pushed my motorcycle with his leg. I lost balance and fell down. They stopped and snatched the bag away from me. When I tried to resist, they kicked me and escaped with the bag containing the cash,” said Abardha.

Though the area was crowded, nobody came to Abardha’s help. The roadside vendors admitted that they had seen the incident happening in front of them.

“I saw the goons who had not worn helmets. While one of them was sitting on the motorbike, the other snatched away the person’s bag after kicking him. The incident took place in a fraction of a minute before we could realise what was going on,” said a betel shop owner.

The goons fled towards Delta Square. Abardha informed the Nayapalli police, who reached the spot and recorded his complaint.

Sources said the city police had blocked most of the exit routes. They are also keeping an eye on black pulsar motorcycles in the city. They were also examining the CCTV footage of the bank to get some clue about the criminals’ identity.

On July 8, two motorcycle-borne youths snatched away Rs 13 lakh from a travel agency owner from Ruchika market. He had withdrawn money from the same bank before the goons decamped with the cash from him.

In the past 10 days, more than 10 incidents of loot had taken place in the twin cities.

Police commissioner B.K. Sharma said he had advised people to seek escort service from the police when they were carrying hefty amounts. However, there were few takers of this free service.

On police patrolling around the banks, he said two police personnel had been deployed around the bank where the incident took place today. Moreover, the bank authorities had been asked to inform the police, when any of their customers withdrew a large amount of cash.

“Earlier, we had asked the bank manager. However, he was absent today. The person, who was in-charge today, said he was not aware of our instructions,” said Sharma, adding that had the bank authorities informed the police, the incident could have been avoided.

Sharma said the people had been requested to seek police assistance while they were carrying large amounts. “We have been providing paid escort to many people in the city. We are ready to provide free escort service to the pubic. This will prevent such incidents apart from helping us arrest the goons,” said Sharma.