In a daylight robbery, miscreants allegedly looted Rs 20 lakh from a labour contractor near Kuanrmunda area under Birmitrapur police limits of Sundargarh district.
Reports said the labour contractor, Krishna Pandey (40), claimed that two motorcycle-borne youths intercepted his car near Kuanrmunda Dairy Farm on NH 143 around 10.30 am. They looted cash from him at gun-point and fled.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Pandey, who is working for an industrial unit, had withdrawn ` 19 lakh on August 14 on behalf of the company, but did not immediately pay the labourers. Following labour unrest, Pandey was under pressure to make the payment on Friday. The police, however, are suspicious about the loot theory.
Birmitrapur IIC R C Singh said efforts are on to ascertain the truth and recover the money. A case has been registered.