Mystery girls’ gang uses novel tactics to loot passerby in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 9:

A mysterious three-member gang of girls has been looting passerby in what is easily the most policed street in the Odisha capital – the road connecting Master Canteen square and PMG square – for the past few days.

The modus oeprandi employed by the gang is unlike anything the capital city has seen before. Mostly active during 3-6 PM, the never-seen-before girls are seen passing flying kisses and making sexually explicit gestures at people walking, riding on bikes and travelling in autos around the Lower PMG area.

The average looking and average dressed 20-25 year old girls are also seen smoking in public places and roaming around the street trying to find their target.

Usually, the victims are the ones that fall prey to their invitation. Once the victim is identified and makes eye contact, they lure him to a side and use the opportunity to snatch away his wallet, mobile phone and other valuables.

On one occasion, we saw them pulling the handlebars of moving motorcycles and even getting into moving auto-rickshaws to get to their targets.

The victims usually don’t report these incidents to avoid embarrassment. We even heard complaints from people who claimed that the girls threatened them with attempt to rape or molestation complaints. Threats are also used to loot valuables from people who refuse to give in to their demands.

With the assembly session nearing and police presence strengthened in the already most fortified area of the city, the presence of these girls is shocking to say the least. While we got in touch with local cops, they were evasive. “We can’t help. Girls are causing trouble, women police will take care of it,” was the insipid, indifferent answer.