BHUBANESWAR: Making a headway in the June 5 loot from the staff of City-based SUM Hospital, the Commissionerate Police has recovered Rs 3.99 lakh of the stolen booty and arrested six persons.
One of the accused, Anila Das, suffered bullet injuries after he engaged the police in an exchange of fire while attempting to flee near Barang late on Friday. He has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
Another accused, Lokanath Dash, was a security guard with the SOA University of which SUM Hospital is an arm. Both Anil and Loknath masterminded the dacoity, police said on Saturday.
Two pistols of .9 mm and 7.62 mm caliber, three mobile phones and bikes apart from cash were seized from the six accused. Two of their associates are still at large.
Clues leading to the dacoity were first received from Cuttack’s Chauliaganj Police which nabbed two accused Manas Das and Goutam Bhoi during routine patrolling earlier this week. Their confession and subsequent information led police to Tulu Sahoo and Charan Das in the city.
Since the two had plans to meet Anil, police laid a trap. In a late night operation, the Special Squad, Infocity Police and Khandagiri Police intercepted Anil along with Bunu near Barang. Upon seeing the cops, Anil fired two rounds and an officer of the Special Squad returned fire. In the exchange of fire, Anil received a bullet in his leg and was captured while Bunu managed to escape.
Police Commissioner RP Sharma said, Anil had laid out the plans for the dacoity while attending a kin at SUM Hospital a couple of months back. Since he had rented out an accommodation nearby, he carried out the recce. He then befriended Lokanath who provided details of the cash transport.
With help of their six associates, they successfully looted Rs 11 lakh from the cashier of the hospital and distributed the booty. Sharma said, all the six accused have criminal antecedents. Bunu and Chandan, the two who are on the run, are believed to be in possession another Rs 3 lakh.