Surat, Jun 13 (IANS): An armed robber looted Rs 6,83,000 from a Surat District Cooperative Bank branch on Monday after holding the staff at gunpoint, police said.

Surat rural police have formed five teams to apprehend the accused.

"In the afternoon, a person in jeans and T-shirt entered the Surat District Bank's Kadodara Branch, threatened to kill staff, looted the cash, and fled," Surat Superintendent of Police Hitesh Joysar told IANS.

The moment that the district control room and Kadodara GIDC police was informed by the bank staff, a team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Visakha Jain reached the branch and started to scan CCTV footage, so as to ensure that the accused doesn't manage to flee

From the CCTV footage of the branch and of the surrounding areas, it became clear that accused had carried out recce, and was aware that there is no security personnel at the branch which has only four staffers, the SP said.

He also said that from the footage, it seems the weapon is a country-made revolver but it has to be investigated, whether it was a weapon at all.

According to bank Managing Director Mahavirsinh Chauhan, this branch was recently opened, and no security guard was kept because it was considered to be located in safe area, as it was in the main market, on the first floor, and there were four employees - the branch manager, a cashier, a clerk and a peon.

He said that accused entered the bank pretending to be a customer, then he suddenly whipped out a gun, pointed it at the forehead of the manager and told him to hand over all the cash with the branch.

After collecting the cash, he immediately fled while locking the branch from outside, Chauhan said.

Though the manager had pressed bank alarm system button, and neighbours rushed for help, the accused fled away.