Four dacoits of a gang were nabbed by the Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Commissionerate Police late on Saturday night from Kalinga Vihar area on the city outskirts, said Twin City Commissioner of the Police Dr RP Sharma while briefing mediapersons here on Sunday.
The arrested were identified as Kala alias Md Sekhawat (35) of Khordha, Binod alias Santu Behera (22) of Tulasipur in Cuttack and Ranjit Pradhan alias Rabi (27) of Digapahandi and Bulu alias Mohan Kumar Pradhan (32) of G Udayagiri in Gajapati district. All the four were staying behind Iskcon temple under the Nayapalli police limits in the city.
Dr Sharma said the four were involved in criminal activities like chain snatching, robbery, dacoity and arms trading in different areas including Nayapalli, Khordha, Subarnapur, Jankia and Puri. Their involvement in other cases is under investigation, he added.
Acting on a tip-off, the QAT led by SI Akash Rana conducted a surprise raid in an under-construction building of the Central School behind SUM Hospital in Kalinga Vihar area and nabbed the four miscreants. They were planning to commit a dacoity in the area, Sharma said.Following the raid, the police seized one automated pistol with two magazines, six rounds live ammunitions, two daggers (Farsa), two handmade bombs, one knife, one crow bar, three cell phones and two motorbikes from their possession.
The accused were forwarded to a local court here. Search is on to nab another culprit, SK Adil alias Firoz of Kesarpur in Cuttack’s Mangalabag area, the Commissioner informed.The Commissionerate Police have seized 32 illegal firearms and 63 live ammunitions in the last eight months from different areas of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cities. The police also busted a gun-making factory at Choudwar and cracked an arms trading gang from a hotel here after a brief gun battle with the criminals. “We will continue our drive in the twin city to control crime,” said Dr Sharma.