On Tuesday, the Bada Bazar police have succeeded in arresting three persons, including two students, for their involvement in the Marthapetta loot case. The arrested were identified as Kanha alias Debasis Sahu, Abhi alias Padmanabh Sahu of Dakshinpur village and Bantu alias Manoj Bisoi of Haradakhandi village located on the outskirts of Brahmapur. Police have recovered Rs 77,000 cash, a motor bike, two bombs and five cell phones from the accused.
It may be recalled here that on June 22 night five miscreants had looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the owner of Krishna Agency, a grocery shop, threatening him with sharp weapons. After the incident, the miscreants had fled the spot in two motor bikes, said Brahmapur SDPO Thakur Prasad Patra.
After the loot, the miscreants had distributed the booty among them near a temple at Dakshinpur village. The police got the clue from the motor bike used by the miscreants. On investigation, the police could come to know that a motor bike used by the miscreants was in the name of a lady of Dakshinpur village. Accused Padmanabh Sahu who is the son of the lady had used the vehicle along with the co- accused in the incident.
Notably, the same gang had allegedly looted Rs 1lakh from a business man of Gadibari Street in May last and Rs 48,000 from the owner of a mobile phone voucher sale center of Martha Street in June last. During interrogation, the accused have confessed to have committed the crimes.
In yet another incident, the Town police have arrested Sibaram Patra (32) of Randha village while stealing a bicycle of shop owner Niranjan Behera in front of Town Hall here on Tuesday and forwarded the accused to court. Based on the complaint filed by Behera, the police registered a case against the accused and recovered the cycle from Gandhinagar main road area, sources revealed.
Again, the Baidyanathpur police arrested one Rajanikanta Padhi, a resident of Dharmanagar Street of Haradakhandi area, on a complaint by Patitapaban Sahu, a mason of Jhadankuli village, where Sahu alleged that Padhi attempted to forcibly snatch his luggage while he was taking rest at the New Bus stand on Monday night. The police registered a case against the accused and forwarded him to court on Tuesday.