Massive Heist: Gift Cards Worth ₹1.86 Crore Stolen from Coal Mine Workers

Robbery Incident in Talcher

Talcher: A significant theft occurred on Saturday afternoon when a vehicle transporting gift cards valued at ₹1.86 crore for coal mine workers was robbed near Badakathia jungle along the Koshala-Kumunda road, according to police reports.

Authorities revealed that the assailants intercepted the vehicle and made off with 2,408 gift cards, each worth ₹7,500. A case has been registered under number 196/25 at the Gopalprasad police station, and an investigation is currently underway.

Initial findings indicate that V Vinod Kumar, an employee of VPR Company, was in charge of delivering the cards from the Ananta coal mine office of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL) in Talcher to the Chhendipada coal mine office when the incident occurred.

While navigating through a wooded area on the Kosala-Kumunda road, a group of three to four men in another vehicle blocked the path and forced the SUV to stop.

The attackers reportedly threatened Kumar and assaulted him physically before escaping with the entire shipment of gift cards, as per police statements.

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Gopalprasad police, and local authorities are actively pursuing the investigation.