The Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Commissionerate Police arrested five members of a dacoit gang while they were planning to commit robbery in the city on Monday night, said Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma at a Press conference here on Tuesday.
The accused were identified as Debasish Mohapatra alias Biku (24) of Bhingura village in Puri district, Biswajit Malia alias Tiku (28) of Kapileswar under the lingaraj police limits in the city, Supravat Mohapatra alias Pupun (18) of Hiranyapada, Rajesh Kumar Dalai (20) and Bibhuti Behera (19) of Matiapada, all belonged to Puri district.
Debasish, who was staying with his cousin Biswajit at Kapileswar village in the city, was a hardcore criminal having 14 cases of extortion, robbery, attempt to murder, swindling charges slapped against him in different police stations in the city.The police seized two mousers, seven live cartridges, five crude bombs, two motor cycles, five mobile phones, one sword and one Katuri from their possession.The accused were booked under section 399, 402 of the IPC and 25 Arms Act and 9 (B) of IE Act were forwarded to the local court today.Briefing the reporters Sharma said Debasish, chief of the gang, along with his aides had been indulged in committing crimes in different areas of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Angul district since during last three years.
During interrogation, Debasish revealed that he has acquired the seized revolver from one anti-social Duryadhan Nayak of Puri staying at Khandagiri here.The Commissioner revealed the criminal gang used to collect arms from Puri district imported from criminals of Bihar and Jharkhand.