Police bust 2 robbery gangs in Odisha’s Puri; arrest seven dacoits, seize weapons

Suranjan Mishra Published On : Sep 14, 2023 at 7:32 PM

Puri: In two separate crackdowns, Sadar police and Chandanpur police yesterday busted two robbery gangs when the dacoits were making plans to commit crimes in Puri town and its suburban areas. Police have arrested a total of seven hardcore criminals in this connection and launched a detailed probe, said Sadar SDPO Rabi Narayan Bhanja in a press conference held here today.

“Sadar police arrested four hardcore criminals and have registered a case (No-200/2023) and launched a detailed probe into the case. The arrested are Chhabi Pradhan, Sukanta Kumar Mallick, Umakanta Das and Santosh Das. The four were planning to commit a dacoity on tourists on the Satapada route. A sword, a dagger, an iron rod, and a packet of chili powder have been recovered and seized from the possession of the anti-socials. However, a member of the dacoity gang could manage to give a slip to the police team,” SDPO Bhanja stated while briefing mediapersons.

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The four history-sheeters have several cases pending against them in different police stations of Puri including murder, snatching, bombing and robbery, the senior police official expressed.

Similarly, Chandanpur police have arrested three robbers following a raid on Jagannath Sadak connecting Khurda. A police team was tipped off during a routine patrolling that the dacoits were planning to commit a crime at a lonely spot on the road and arrested the three. Two members of the gang managed to flee from the spot. The three arrested are Mithun Bhoi, Rommy alias Somesh Das and Jaya Muduli. A country-made firearm and a sword have been recovered and seized from their possession.

The three criminals are history-sheeters and have several cases pending against them including murder and robbery. They were planning to snatch the valuables from tourists coming to the town.

“We have already launched a special drive and accordingly arrested several criminals so far. The drive will be intensified in the days ahead,” said Sadar SDPO in the presser.