Dacoity bid foiled in Odisha capital; five held

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Aug 8:

The Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Commissionerate Police today claimed to have foiled a robbery bid and arrested five youths from Chakeisiani under Mancheswar police limits. Police was able to seize two 7.65 mm bore pistols and 5 live ammunition from the accused.

According to Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr R P Sharma, QAT got reliable information late on Thursday night that five persons were conspiring and preparing for dacoity near an isolated place in Chakeisiani area here. Acting on the tip off, raids were carried out and the five accused arrested from the spot, he added.

The accused – identified as Suryakant Mohapatra presently staying at Jail Road, Jharpada, Saroj Kumar Moharana alias Siba, Trinath Behera alias Nath, Subash Rout alias Rocky and Gautam Mandal, all from Jatni – were booked under sections 399, 402 of IPC and Sec 25 of Arms Act, the commissioner said.

The accused, who had pitched their tent in the city since many days planning for a dacoity, were forwarded to the court today.

Trinath, the leader of the group who is a bouncer at the INOX theatre here, had many cases pending against him including dacoity, extortion and robbery. He had been committing crimes in Khurda district with his other associates using illegal arms. The arms they use are brought up from Munger District in Bihar, the CP said.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing the crime, Dr Sharma said, adding police have also seized two two-wheelers, 4 mobile phones and Rs. 5490 in cash from their possession.

“We suspect that more people are involved in the dacoity gang. They will be in the police net very soon,” Dr Sharma said.

Suryakant works as a LMV driver while Saroj is a bar attendant in Jatni. Subash is a student at BCCST College in Jayadev Vihar here, the commisoner revealed.