Dhenkanal, Oct. 16 -- A daring robbery attempt targeting Panchayat pension money was foiled on Wednesday near a nullah under Bhuban police limits in Dhenkanal district after the Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) narrowly escaped with both his life and the cash.

According to reports, Ashutosh Nayak, Executive Officer of Balibo Panchayat, had withdrawn Rs 5.5 lakh from a branch of the ICICI Bank to distribute government allowance money among beneficiaries under various social security and pension schemes and was heading to the Panchayat office on his scooter on Wednesday. Around 10 a.m., three miscreants on a black Pulsar motorcycle followed him from the NH-53 Anantapur Square and intercepted him near the Bekamoda nullah, close to Kanakhai...