PHULBANI: Kandhamal police on Friday arrested two persons including a 12-year-old boy for their alleged involvement in a series of mobile phone thefts and fraudulent UPI withdrawals from bank accounts of victims.
The accused are A Kasi (24) of Pandiapathar in Aska and the juvenile of Sorada, both in Ganjam district.
According to police, complainant Laxman Sasmal (55) of Phiringia reported that his mobile phone was stolen from the local market on August 4. Subsequently, he found that Rs 1,35,508 had been transferred from his bank account through UPI.
Acting on the complaint, police registered a case and apprehended the accused after investigation. Police also recovered Rs 40,000 in cash and two mobile phones from the two accused.
During interrogation, Kasi allegedly confessed to his involvement in the offence and disclosed that the two-member gang was involved in similar crimes in Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur and Boudh districts.
Kandhamal SP Ramendra Prasad said the gang targeted elderly persons in market areas and stole their mobile phones. The stolen phones were allegedly used to access the victims’ bank accounts and transfer money via UPI at various SBI kiosks. In the recent case, police traced the fraudulent transactions to SBI kiosks in Tikabali and Boudh.
Police said the accused are allegedly involved in four cases registered at Phiringia, Manamunda and Jagannathprasad police stations under various provisions of the BNS, the IT Act, and the IPC.
Kasi was forwarded to the court while the minor accused was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday.