In a daylight heist, a gang of 5–6 armed men looted a branch of ESAF Small Finance Bank in the Khitola area of Jabalpur district on Monday morning. They escaped with gold and cash after holding employees at gunpoint. The robbers arrived on motorcycles, stormed into the bank just as it opened, and fled within 20–25 minutes. Sources mention the robbers took nearly 10 kg of gold and around Rs 6 lakh in cash, although exact figures are yet to be confirmed by the police. The police are conducting an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage to gather more evidence. No injuries were reported during the robbery. A manhunt has been initiated, and neighboring districts have been alerted for possible leads. Investigators are looking into whether the gang had prior insights into the bank’s operations and security measures.
