Bhubaneswar, May 25: Armed men today looted Rs 8.8lakh from an employee of a private company at gunpoint in Rourkela.

Police sources said one Anil Prasad Agrawal, an employee of Jagannath Steel and Power Limited, drew money from HDFC Bank’s Bisra Road branch at around 10.40am. After withdrawing the money, he proceeded to the company office located at N-2, Civil Township, by a Scorpio.

Agrawal was intercepted by two armed youths, who were waiting outside the office. As they tried to snatch the bag carrying the cash, Agrawal resisted. The men then brandished a pistol and snatched away the cash.

“I was returning to office around after drawing money from the bank. After alighting from the vehicle in front of our office, I saw two youths, their faces covered with handkerchief, sitting on a black motorbike. As soon as they saw me, they pounced on me,” said Agrawal.

“I tried to resist. But they hit me, showed a pistol and decamped with the cash,” said Agrawal, confirming that he was carrying Rs 8.8lakh.

Agrawal, however, could not give a detailed description of the two robbers as their faces were covered. He only said they were speaking in Hindi and Oriya. On being informed, Raghunathpalli police reached the spot and launched search operation.

Additional superintendent of police R.K. Panda said all roads had been sealed and vehicles were being checked at all sensitive points. All nearby police stations had been alerted and a couple of teams were constituted to carry out the search operation.