The Commissionerate police have busted a nine-member gang of dangerous criminals which had spread terror in the streets of the State capital recently.
While five of the gang members were apprehended in a series of encounters last week, four other members have also been arrested now.
Police have also arrested three receivers for buying stolen items. The arrested gang members were identified as Bibek Nayak, Aruna Mallick . Sipun Kabi alias Sipun , Harekrushana Swain alias Hari, Rabi Rao ,Arjun Das alias Baba, Debasis Das alias Situ, Jaga alais Para and Aju Sahu alia Ajaya.
Besides, the cops have seized nine four-wheelers including four Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), five country made guns, eight motorbikes, gold ornaments weighing 224 grams and cash of Rs 50,000 from the possession of the gang members.
Police said that the gang is involved in more than two dozen cases of loot, robbery and snatching in Bhubaneswar and its outskirts in June.
The modus operandi of the gang members were they used to divide into two to three groups and commit crime at regular intervals. They used to assemble near Nayagarh and then travel Bhubaneswar with lethal weapons,” said a police official.
The gang members targeted people on the National Highway, streets and other isolated areas in the city. The gang was also involved in loot of Rs 35 lakh from a hired vehicle of Indian Bank near Nakhara on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on June 14, the loot of an Innova from Khandagiri area, loot of a Hyundai Creta from Nayapalli area, loot of Renault Duster from Airport PS area, all in June.
“Further investigation is continuing to arrest the remaining gang members and recover stolen properties,” said a police official.