In a major breakthrough, the Khandagiri police on Wednesday busted a notorious highway looters’ gang and arrested three persons.
The two looters were identified as Dabasish Pujapanda alias Sonu and Krishna Singh alias Kishan. The third arrestee was a receiver of stolen goods, Basanta Kumar Nayak alias Baina.
Police said the accused are habitual offenders and involved in series of snatchings on the National Highway-16 between Nayapally to Khordha. The modus operandi was they targeted commuters by using bikes with tampered number plates. The cops have seized two motorcycles and 15 mobile phones from the trio’s possession.
Police stumbled upon the gang while investigating into the snatching case lodged by one Hareskrushna Senapati of Baipur.
Senapati was on his way from his rented house near News7 office in Khandagiri by his motorcycle, when two motorbike youths came from behind and snatched his mobile phone at Baramunda flyover. Later he lodged a complaint at the Khandagiri police station.
Police forwarded all the accused to court after registering a case.