BHUBANESWAR: Seven persons donning uniforms of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were arrested by Nayagarh Police while plotting a robbery on National Highway 16 on Monday.
The arrested were identified as Santosh Suna of M Rampur, Khirasindhu Hial of Muniguda, Nabin Bagh of Dharmgarh, Kishor Podh of Bhawanipatna and Dilip Senapati, Harun Das and Abed Das of Litiguda village in Nuapada district. Suna and Hial have criminal antecedents and were arrested in the past in forgery cases, Nayagarh Town Police IIC NC Barik said.
The gang, police said, had rented an SUV from Bhawanipatna and changed its registration number plate into the format used by State Police. They also possessed fake identity cards bearing the insignia of CRPF, Nayagarh SP Manoranjan Mohanty said.
On April 8, the gang was seen loitering in new bus stand area, an isolated location, and their activities seemed suspicious. Nayagarh Town Police rounded them up and upon interrogation, it was revealed that the gang was plotting two robberies on the highway.
The camouflage uniform of CRPF and police registration plate had helped them escape several check posts during their travel from Bhawanipatna to Nayagarh. After committing the crime, they had planned to flee to Muniguda in Rayagada district.
The accused were booked under Sections 399, 402 and 419 of the Indian Penal Code and produced in Nayagarh SDJM’s court which remanded them in judicial custody.