Bhubaneswar: Police in Odisha’s Bhadrak district have busted an inter-state armed robbery network hailing from Jharkhand.
The gang was involved in at least six armed dacoities across the district, including Sabaranga, Talanga, Charampa, Ganijanga, Dhamnagar Chhak, Ranital, Simulia, and Jagadalpur under Bhadrak Rural police limits, since May this year.
Speaking to the media, Bhadrak SP Manoj Rout revealed that the criminals typically struck in the evening hours, between 6 pm and 9 pm. To gain entry into homes, they would often ask residents for water or inquire about fish fingerlings. Once an occupant stepped away, gang members would force their way inside, brandish firearms, and lock family members in separate rooms. To induce terror during the robberies, the miscreants went so far as to point guns directly at small children while looting cash, gold, and silver ornaments.
He further stated that the investigation gained momentum after a failed robbery attempt on August 3, when local residents courageously confronted the gang members during a robbery attempt at Judagadia village in Jagadalpur. This prompt action allowed police to launch an immediate search and apprehend a a suspect. Interrogation of the local mastermind, identified as Aditya Rana, revealed connections to operatives in Dhanbad and Jamtara districts of Jharkhand.
Rana, who allegedly facilitated the gang’s activities in Odisha, was arrested earlier and produced in court.
Based on the intelligence gathered, two special teams under the SDPO Sadar, including rural inspectors, officers from Tihidi and other stations, and cyber specialists, conducted coordinated raids in Dhanbad. The operation culminated in the arrest of six individuals, including two main perpetrators and four receivers of the stolen items.
During the raids, police seized a loaded pistol with live ammunition, ₹2.70 lakh in cash, up to 60 grams of gold, and 600 grams of silver ornaments, along with vehicles used in the commission of the crimes, including a car, a Royal Enfield Bullet, a Hero Xtreme motorcycle, and several mobile phones.
The SP noted that awards would be conferred upon those who courageously assisted the police, adding that the arrested gang members were also suspected of involvement in similar armed robberies across neighbouring Baleshwar and Kataka districts. Further searches are on in Jharkhand to trace the remaining four to five gang members.
