Rourkela: In a major crackdown, Rourkela police claimed to have busted an organised crime syndicate involving bike thefts and iron scrap smuggling by arresting seven persons in this connection in Odisha's Sundargarh district. 

The accused were identified as Animesh Bar (22), Manish Mandal (24), Mohammad Samir (20), Bishal Sahu (30), Sanjay Prasad (55), Bijay Behera (47) and Bipul Ajmera, all residents of Sundargarh. Nine motorcycles, one four wheeler and 1690 kg iron scrap were recovered from their possession. 

The racket that was busted came to light following a press release by the Rourkela Plant Site Police which stated that the nexus was operated by stealing bikes, dismantling them and selling valuable parts to customers at higher prices

As per the release, atleast nine motorbikes had been stolen from the parking space near the traffic gate in last one month. All thefts were reported in the afternoon. After getting tip-off about the series of thefts, police carried out searches and managed to nab Animesh and Manish. During interrogation, the duo confessed that they used to steal bikes and sell those to Mohammad Samir who owned a garage. The three of them then used to disassemble bike parts and then sell them to illegal scrap dealers Sanjay, Bijay, Bishal and Bipul from Raghunathpali and Rourkela. 

Addressing mediapersons today, Plant Site police informed that the arrests were made following multiple raids carried out after getting valuable intelligence on the racket. All the accused were history-sheeters with 11 cases pending against Bijay, five against Sanjay and one each against Bishal and Manish, they added.