Dacoits loot bank in Orissa

Armed dacoits looted over Rs six lakh from a branch of Bank of India in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district today, police said.

Five men on two motor-cycles and armed with pistols, struck at the bank's Chatani branch under Bishoi police station, about 55 km from here around noon, and two of them positioned themselves at the main door.

The three others stormed into the bank and took away mobile phones from the staff and about ten customers before entering the manager's room to snatch the locker and strongroom keys, they said.

The docoits took away the keys after hitting manager Bijay Dandpat on head and decamped with over Rupees six lakh, bank oficials said.

Eyewitnesses said the dacoits fled on their bikes towards Hijli.