[Watch] Snatching Gang Busted In Odisha Capital: Graduate Who Wanted To Crack Competitive Exams Among Them

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police on Friday arrested four members of a gang and detained a juvenile who were behind a series of snatching incidents in the capital.

The gang became notorious as the ‘Katuri’ gang as they used to attack their victims with sharp weapons before snatching their mobile phones, cash and other valuables. The police were after the gang for a while.

While the juvenile has been detained, those arrested are Narayan Bari from Puri, Arbaz Khan alias Rocky from Cuttack, Rajesh Samal from Bhubaneswar and Soumya Rajan from Kendrapara.

Soumya did his graduation from a college in Pattamundai and came to Bhubaneswar to prepare for competitive exams. He started a ‘lassi’ stall to make ends meet but gradually came in contact with members of the ‘Katuri’ gang and became a part of it.

“Our special teams were on alert and on the lookout for the criminals. On April 14, our night patrolling team intercepted the gang members, but they gave a slip. However, Khandagiri police managed to nab five members of the group,” said DCP (Bhubaneswar) Umashankar Dash.

Police have seized 22 mobile phones, Rs 36,000, five wrist watches and four bikes, one of them a stolen bike, and several sharp weapons from the arrested gang members.

Police said the gang has eight to 10 members. Efforts are on to nab the others. During March and April, the gang was involved in 17 cases of snatching. They usually targeted people during early morning hours.