Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown, Commissionerate Police-Bhubaneswar today busted an inter-state dacoity gang involved in several robberies conducted in apartments in the State Capital. Police have arrested nine members of the notorious gang in this connection.
The nine arrested are Bablu Dalai (20), son of Santosh Dalai from Tahanar under Hinjilcut police limits in Ganjam district, Santosh Kumar Dash (20) alias Santu, son of Pramod Kumar Dash from Padhala under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam, Bishnu Pradhan (30), son of Sibaram Pradhan from Khaira under Kotinada in Ganjam, Prasant Behera (20), son of Madhab Behera, from Padhala under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam, Bulu Patra (42), son of Brajabandhu Patra from College Chhak under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam, Gisrish Naik (45) alias Dada, son of Rama Naik from Ambadoli under Gangapur police limits in Ganjam, at present residing in Millennium City of Pahala in Bhubaneswar, Ranjan Raula (24), son of Prakash Raula from Bhatakumbharada under Chatrapur police limits in Ganjam, Mryutanjaya Sahu (58), son of Late Dinabandhu Sahoo from Nimina under Polasara police limits in Ganjam, Amit Kumar Jena (20), son of Arun Kumar Jena from Khaira under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam.
According to an official source, Mancheswar police ascertained the involvement of the nine dacoits during a detailed probe of four robbery cases (No-509, 510, 511, and 512, all dated 12.12.2023, U/s 457 and 380 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On the intervening night of December 11, last year, a group of burglars entered the premises of Space Town Apartment and broke open four Flats by using crowbars. They committed theft of cash, gold, and silver ornaments from those Flats. Investigating a series of apartment burglary cases and other robbery cases, Commissionerate Police busted the well-organised inter-state gang.
Led by notorious property offenders Girish Naik, Mrutyunjaya Sahu, and Bulu Patra, the gang was earlier formed with active members namely Prasant, Amit, Bishnu, Ranjan, Santosh, and Bablu. They were active in different districts of the State namely Puri, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Ganjam, and Jharsuguda. Usually, they stay in Chhattisgarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Andhra Pradesh and commit crimes in Odisha. After the commission of a crime, they abscond outstate to evade police arrest.
They make recce in the day hour and operate in the night hour between 1.00 AM to 3.00 AM.
Four motorcycles, cash of Rs 3 Lakh Twenty Thousand, silver ornaments weighing 1Kg and 500 Grams, 12 neckless (imitation), a gold chain weighing around 12 Grams, gold ornaments, eight mobile phones, and a house-breaking instruments were seized from the possession of the dacoits.
Notably, the dacoit gang also has cases pending against it in Laxmisagar, Infocity, Tamando, Airfield, and Bharatpur police stations.