Cuttack: Commissionerate Police arrested three members of a gang allegedly involved in a series of gold chain snatching incidents in Choudwar and adjoining areas in Odisha’s Cuttack district, and recovered stolen ornaments weighing 97 grams.
Police said the racked was busted during probe into an incident in which a 50-year-old woman was robbed near Birupa barrage vegetable market while returning home with her husband. Two miscreants snatched her gold chain weighing around 23 grams and fled towards Jagatpur. Acting on her written complaint, police launched a detailed investigation.
Investigators collected and examined CCTV footage from entry and exit points and cross-checked lists of habitual offenders released from Choudwar and Jharpada jails since January 2025. A special team led by ACP (Zone I) Arun Kumar Swain, comprising officers from Choudwar PS and the Special Squad, Cuttack was formed to crack the case.
The team apprehended 22-year-old Bishal Mallick of Balarampur village under Nemalo Police Station along with 2 accomplices, identified as Pravakar Samanta (42) of CDA, Cuttack and Kanhu alias Harekrushna Sahoo (31). Police also seized a motorcycle used in the crimes, along with multiple gold chains weighing around 97 grams.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to involvement in a series of snatching and robbery cases across Choudwar, Jagatpur, Sadar PS areas under Cuttack UPD and Bhubaneswar UPD. They have been linked to at least 6 other cases.
