PATNA, May 8 -- In one of the biggest gold heists in Bihar, armed robbers looted Samastipur branch of Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), in the heart of district headquarter on Wednesday and decamped with gold worth Rs.5 crore and Rs.15 lakh cash. A group of 'seven to eight' robbers entered the BoM branch located at Kashipur locality of Samastipur town posing as customers around 11:30 am, police said, citing eyewitnesses' accounts. "No shots were fired during the robbery. The arms were used to threaten the staff. After the gang left, the employees, apparently were too shocked to react," police said and added that an investigation was being conducted to find out whether the bank's siren was working or not. Also, there was no guard in the bank. Information would be sought from the bank's senior officer in this regard, they added. According to the BoM's deputy manager Shashi Bhushan Kumar, two to three men entered the bank pretending to inquire about opening a new account. "They were asking about the required documents to create a distraction. Soon after, 6-7 more men entered, and all of them pulled out firearms, taking the bank staff and customers hostage at gunpoint," said the deputy manager. Police said, the robbers appeared to have come prepared. They had drawn up the plan before as two of the men carried some papers and approached the deputy manager, while the rest waited outside the branch. As the duo started talking to the deputy manager, they suddenly took out arms and asked them to hand over all the gold in the bank. Samastipur SP Ashok Mishra said the miscreants had brought a bag with them which they used to keep the looted cash and gold. Mishra visited the spot and held inquiries with the employees. Forensic experts collected samples from the spot. Further investigations were on. "We are checking CCTV footage of the area to find out whether the gang members fled in a car or other vehicles, and trace their escape route," said the SP, adding the robbers bolted all the employees inside a room and snatched their phones. Earlier, on March 10, 2025, six armed criminals had barged into Tanishq jewellery store in Ara town and decamped with jewellery worth over Rs.10 crore....