Bhubaneswar: The Twin City Commissionerate Police on Monday arrested eight members of two dacoit gangs involved in a series of snatching and loot cases during the lockdown period and seized huge stolen properties from their possession.
The arrested have been identified as Ranjan Satpathy alias Bunty (20) of Chakeisiani, Sanjay Behera alias Sanji (23) of Masjid Colony, Mantu Paikray (38) of Baramunda, Chandan Pradhan alias Jitu (27) of Mahavir Nagar, Bhagabata Prasad Mahapatra alias Sonu (32) of Tangi Sahi in Khurda district and Sk Javed (37) of Hata Sahi Muslim Basti and Pradip Kumar Das (33) of Chanarpada village in Puri district and Alok Behera alias Alia (28) of Panichhatra village in Puri district.
Police have seized 70 smartphones, 23 laptops, 2 LED TVs and 9 bikes from their possession.
Briefing the media, Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Dash said one gang snatched mobile phones and bikes from the people on the highway in the early morning hours, while the other gang used to steal laptops and mobile phones from houses and hostels, especially in Kharavela Nagar, Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli and Khandagiri. The second gang was targeting different mess in Khandagiri and Tamando areas. “The members of one of the gangs used to oil their bodies to avoid being caught while stealing,” he added.
The DCP said that a special drive was launched by a joint squad of Khandagiri, Kharavela Nagar and Saheed Nagar police stations and a special squad of Commissionerate Police to nab these two gangs.
The arrested members will be forwarded to the court later in the day after interrogation, he added.
