Barbil Bank Dacoity Case: Prime Accused and Aides Nabbed, Gold & Silver Seized

Barbil, 1st June: In a major breakthrough in the sensational Bank of Maharashtra armed dacoity case (Barbil P.S. Case No.29 dated 19.01.2026), Keonjhar Police has arrested three prime accused and recovered stolen property worth lakhs.

The daring robbery, which took place on January 19, 2026, saw 6–7 armed miscreants storm the Barbil branch at gunpoint, looting nearly Rs. 4.5 lakh in cash and 7 kg of gold ornaments before fleeing on motorcycles. The incident, reported by Branch Manager Pankaj Kumar Barnwal, triggered a massive multi-state investigation.

Under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Keonjhar, fourteen special teams were deployed across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Earlier operations had already led to the arrest of eight accused and recovery of 400 grams of gold, a Pulsar motorcycle, two Scorpio vehicles, and a pistol.

Acting on intelligence from Roushan Kumar alias Laddu (34), who was arrested in Surat and produced before court on May 11, 2026, police apprehended his associates Jitendra Kumar and Akhilesh Prasad Singh (52) of Aurangabad. The raid led to the seizure of 236 grams of gold (ornaments and melted gold), 4 kg of silver, and a Maruti Suzuki car allegedly purchased with crime proceeds.

Investigations revealed that Roushan Kumar alias Laddu is a habitual offender with multiple cases registered against him, including involvement in an illegal firearm manufacturing unit. Keonjhar Police has reiterated its zero tolerance policy against organized crime, dacoity, illegal arms trade, and antisocial activities.

Further investigation is underway to trace remaining associates, recover stolen property, and establish deeper links in the criminal conspiracy.