Highwaymen loot bus, 10 hurt

KENDRAPADA: In a pre-dawn robbery, armed miscreants looted a bus on NH- 5(A) at Tikarpanga Chhack in Kendrapada district on Sunday.
Ten persons, including five women, were injured in a scuffle with robbers, police said.
The bus with 35 passengers was travelling from Kanthi in West Bengal to Paradip. Robbers blocked the NH by placing huge stones, forcing the driver to stop the vehicle.
"A group of seven robbers entered the bus and started looting cash and other valuables from passengers, brandishing pistols and daggers," said sub-divisional police officer (Kendrapada) Nrusingh Charan Swain.
Police said the robbers looted Rs 2 lakh, besides jewellery and other valuables from passengers. "The robbers also looted Rs 70,000 from conductor Dhiren Parida. A manhunt is on to nab the highwaymen," added the police officer.
Passengers, who resisted the robbers, were injured after they were attacked with sharp weapons. "The goons threatened to shoot dead any one raising an alarm," said passenger Ramesh Jena.
Joshna Mandal of Paradip was robbed of Rs 4,000. "The armed persons looted my ornaments too," she said.
The conductor and some passengers lodged FIR in Marsaghai police station. Police have registered a case. A special team has been formed to nab the robbers, said Swain.