The Commissionerate Police on Monday busted a vehicle lifting racket and arrested five persons, including two engineering students and an MBA student in the city.
The accused were identified as Arun Mallik (32) of Patharpet village under the Soro police limits in Baleswar district, Kalia Sethy (23) of Naharana under the Balikuda police station in Jagatsinghpur district, Ranjit Choudhury alias Bablu (22) of Kotakana under the Kanas police limits in Puri district, Rakesh Nayak alias Raka (22) of Nandighar under the Kanas police limits in Puri district and Khitis Puhan (24) of Angargadia under the Industrial police limits in Baleswar district.
Among the five, Rakesh and Khitish are students of the Aryan Institute of Technology and the ITER Engineering College in Bhubaneswar, respectively, while Ranjit, an MBA student, is pursuing his education in the Mahindra Institute of Technology.
Briefing reporters here, Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma said the Special Squad and the Chandaka police found the involvement of these persons in crime while investigating into a car theft case.
The accused had taken away a Scorpio car on June 9 from the driver of one Chitaranjan Sahoo of Puri. They had also looted a money purse containing Rs 2,000, a mobile phone and an ATM card of the driver at the point of knife.
During the course of investigation, it was ascertained that a group of notorious motorcycle lifters of Baleswar was involved in this crime. Intensive raids were conducted at different places. The police arrested the accused and recovered the stolen Scorpio along with four other stolen motorcycles, 10 mobile phones and a revolver along with two live ammunitions from their possession.
Dr Sharma said Mallick, who was involved in more than 20 cases in Baleswar district, was the gang leader. “The engineering and MBA students are joining hands with criminals to earn instant money to maintain a luxurious life in the city,” he added.