BHUBANESWAR: The city police on Thursday arrested five members of a chain-snatching gang, including a juvenile, for their alleged involvement in at least 12 cases in various parts of the capital city in the last one year.
Those arrested are Arun Sahoo (25), Dipak Bhanja (21), Kisan Bhoi (20) and Swayamsu Samal (21). The minor boy, belonging to West Bengal, has been detained. As per police, Sahoo is a notorious property offender and had earlier lost his right palm reportedly to a crude bomb explosion.
Addressing mediapersons, police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said the gang was active within Pahala, Balianta, Mancheswar and Chandrasekharpur police limits in Bhubaneswar and in Sadar police limits area in Cuttack. They mainly targeted people taking walks or plucking flowers during the wee hours.
About 70 gm gold ornaments, including eight chains and one ring, worth rs 12 lakh, one billhook and five motorcycles were seized from them, Singh added. Investigation revealed Bhoi had recently purchased a high speed motorcycle using the crime proceeds.