Jharsuguda: Police have cracked a major house robbery case, using advanced scientific investigation, cyber forensics, and digital evidence analysis, in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district.
The breakthrough, leading to recovery of stolen property values at Rs 1.28 crore and arrest of eight persons, came nine days after a gang of dacoits barged into the house of wholesale trader Mukesh Buchwani on November 19, tied up six family members and held them at gunpoint for nearly three hours before decamping with cash, gold and silver articles.
According to police, an intensive investigation was launched using CCTV mapping, route analysis, mobile tower location tracking, call detail records. “It was a blind case, and our technical inputs and CCTV analysis helped us get the first clue and then gradually catch hold of the accused one after another,” said inspector-general of police (northern range) Himanshu Lal.
The use of two pre-activated mobile numbers by the accused proved to be a key breakthrough. “The crime scene was thoroughly examined for forensic evidence, including fingerprint lifting, which played a crucial role in identifying the culprits,” he added.
Those arrested have been identified as Sanjay Singh (53)
from East Singhbhum in Jharkhand, Radhakanta Kanhar (38) from Sarbahal in Jharsuguda, Ashok Kumar Panda (58) from Jharsuguda, Jagabandhu Behera (56) from Cuttack, Kanha Charan Swain (25) from Jagatsinghpur, Jitendra Sahoo (30) from Jagatsinghpur and Anand Rai (24) and Sushila Meher (30), both from Balangir,
The recovered stolen property include Rs 37.27 lakh in cash, gold ornaments and coins weighing around 521 gms worth Rs 66.56 lakh, besides silver ornaments and coins weighing around 14.32 kg worth Rs 24.77 lakh. An iPhone, a TV, a fridge and a home theatre system, bought by two detained juvenile offenders using stolen cash, were also seized.
Police also seized three country-made pistols along with 12 live rounds, two knives, and several vehicles used in the crime, along with 12 mobile phones, original and fake registration number plates, and a battery.