Thrissur: In a daring daylight robbery, a man stole cash worth approximately Rs 15 lakh by holding the staff at knifepoint at the Federal Bank branch, Potta, Chalakkudy, Thrissur, around 1:30 pm on Friday. Wearing a jacket and helmet, the man brandished a knife, walked straight to the cashier's cabin, smashed the glass counter and made away with the cash. He wore a backpack and hand gloves. At the time of the incident, only two staff members—the manager and one other—were present at the bank, as the rest had left for lunch.

The Chalakkudy police have launched an investigation, gathering statements from bank staff and reviewing CCTV footage from the scene. The visuals showed the robber arriving in front of the bank in a two-wheeler and casually approaching the bank entrance.

“The robber arrived at the spot, attacked the security, and entered the bank while the staff were having lunch,” said Valsan CN, Potta School ward councillor. He held the staff at knifepoint, locked the manager and the staff inside the toilet and carried out the theft. “Although the cashier’s cabin was locked, the man broke it open, shattered the glass partition, stole the money, and fled towards Chalakudy,” Valsan added. 

Chalakkudy MLA Saneesh Kumar, who arrived at the scene, blamed the incident on a lapse by the Kerala Police. “This is a busy area. Such an incident shouldn’t have happened, but the reality is that criminals now act without fear,” he said. Forensic officials also arrived to examine the site.