Muggers snatch Tk 1 crore of Payra power plant’s payroll

Muggers have snatched over Tk 1 crore of three companies under Payra Thermal Power Plant in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

The incident took place on Patuakhali-Kalapara road near Tiakhali College on Wednesday evening, reports our local correspondent quoting police and witnesses.

Three manpower companies of the power plant – REW, SEW, and JT Traders – have over 500 workers at the plant.

On Wednesday, officials of the companies withdrew Tk 12.5 lakh of REW, Tk 36 lakh of SEW, and Tk 52 lakh of JT Traders from Barishal Premier Bank branch and were returning to the power plant in Kalapara on a microbus.

The money would have been paid to the workers as their salary for the month of January, officials of the companies said.

Near Tiakhali College, a van and bamboos were found lying across the road, prompting the microbus to stop. Some 10-12 men wielding sharp weapons and riding 5-6 motorcycles came from behind to intercept the microbus, forcing them to move towards Tiakhali Kacha Sarak, witnesses said.

The muggers then beat up the officials and hacked two of them— Jhunu and Tanveen—as they tried to protest. They then fled from the scene with the bag of money, according to eye-witnesses accounts.

Police went to the spot, detained the microbus driver and also seized the vehicle, said Manoranjan Mistry, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Amtali Police Station.

Steps have been taken to nab the muggers and recover the money and police officials are on alert in this regard, said Maruf Hossain, superintendent of police in Barguna.