PATNA: Forget cash and jewellery. Now edible oil, the prices of which have skyrocketed in the market, is criminals’ latest target. The criminals entered the godown of a private agency in
Purnia
and looted
edible oil
worth over Rs 8.16 lakh in the wee hours of Sunday.
Police said over a dozen criminals wearing masks barged into the godown of Emami Agrotech Private Ltd at Ramraj Chowk under Purnia sadar police station and stolen edible oil stocked for local distribution.
The guard of the godown, Mohammad Alam, was taken hostage by the criminals before being taken to an isolated location. The cartons and packets of edible oil were subsequently loaded in a truck parked on the campus of the godown.
“The operation continued for about two hours. All the criminals had covered their faces with towel and masks,” the guard told the police.
Incharge of the godown and proprietor of Ritesh Store Farm, Ritesh Gungarwal, lodged a complaint with the sadar police station in connection with the loot. “We hope police will crack the case soon,” he told reporters in Purnia.
SHO of sadar police station Madhurendra Kumar rushed to the spot and inquired about the incident. SDPO Surendra Kumar Saroj also inquired about the incident and asked the investigating officer to ascertain the identity of the gang.
The police have obtained CCTV footage from nearby houses and business establishments at Gulabbagh in the heart of the divisional town. “The soaring prices of edible oil may have attracted the criminals to loot the essential commodity,” an investigating officer said.
Earlier, trucks carrying garlic and onion were hijacked by criminals on NH-02 in Kaimur and Rohtas districts. Though FIRs were lodged by the victims, nothing happened in the two cases.