DSP Anil Pradhan told the media that the businessman, identified as Pradeep Kumar Soni of Basanti Colony in the city, had gone to Kolkata and returned to Rourkela by train in wee hours of the day. One of his friends had come to the railway station to pick him up.

While both of them were going on a scooty, the unidentified miscreants intercepted them near Railway Colony under Plant Site police station. The miscreants attacked them with a knife and snatched Pradeep’s bag containing the ornaments.

The locals admitted Pradeep and his friend, who had sustained injuries in the attack, in a hospital.

On being informed, police went to the spot and started investigation, the DSP said.

They matter came to light on Saturday morning when the teachers and headmistress of Government Primary School at Panijharia in Mahulia Panchayat under Chandbali Police limits of the district came to the school.

They found the doors of the office room and adjacent rooms partially opened and broken locks lying on the ground. Headmistress Urmila Sahu informed the school committee members and the block education office (BEO) about the incident.

On being informed, school chairperson Swarnalata Bej went to the school and reported the matter to the police. She told the media that she was informed by the headmistress about the incident. “Urmila told me that the doors of several rooms including office had been broken open, I went to the school. After verifying the matter personally, I informed the police.”

Besides cash and a few stationery items, some valuable documents had been stolen by the miscreants, said Bej. But she could not say why the miscreants targeted the school.

A team from Chandbali police station went to the school and started an investigation. They suspected that several persons were involved in the loot. They have started inquiry to identify the miscreants.

As per reports, Rajesh Badi of Andharpalli in Bargarh district, who works in the finance company in Jharsuguda. He had gone to collect the repayment instalments of loan taken by the people of Tilia under Hemgiri police limits in Sundargarh.

While was returning with the cash amounting to Rs 1.2 lakh to deposit in the office, the miscreants wearing masks on their faces came on a bike and intercepted him on a deserted stretch between Tilia and Kaudhar. They beat up Rajesh and took away the money. Then they fled towards Belpahad in Jharsuguda.

Later, Rajesh managed to go to Hemgiri police station and filed a complaint. The police have registered a case and started investigation.

The thieves disconnected CCTV cameras and made a hole in the strongroom wall. They entered from the terrace of the four-floor building and reached the ground floor where the strongroom was located, officials said. Apart from stealing the ornaments kept in the strongroom, they also escaped with the jewellery kept on display at the showroom.

The showroom was locked on Sunday evening and opened only on Tuesday morning since it remains shut on Mondays. The cops are going through whatever was recorded on CCTV before the thieves disconnected them. No one has been arrested yet, NDTV reported.

According to sources, the incident took place late on Saturday night when the train was running between Latehar and Daltonganj stations.

Over 12 robbers armed with guns and other weapons stormed the S-9 coach of the express train and looted many passengers at gunpoint.

The miscreants took away gold ornaments worth lakhs of rupees, cash, and other valuables from the passengers. Some passengers also sustained grievous injuries after being attacked by the robbers.

The passengers created a ruckus after the train reached Daltonganj station and raised questions over the security arrangements. Tension prevailed at the station for some time. The train halted there for nearly two hours and left after the injured passengers were provided with first aid.

Passengers alleged that the incident took place because of the carelessness on the part of the RPF personnel.