Five persons, including one dismissed police constable, two Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) employees and two employees of Rourkela Municipal Corporation, were arrested on Monday, allegedly for duping several youths of lakhs of rupees on job pretext.
Police seized four four-wheelers, two two-wheelers and bank passbooks with ATM cards of several banks from them. Though the accused are facing an allegation of duping Rs 70 lakh, according sources, it could be over crores.
One Jiban Ekka, a native of Rourkela city, had lodged a complaint in Sector 3 police station about a week ago, alleging that he had been duped of Rs 2.5 lakh by one Susil Dungdung, who had taken the sum promising to give employment in the Rourkela Municipal Corporation. Investigating into the matter, police apprehended Dungdung on Sunday and during interrogation, police came to know that a racket under his leadership had been operating in the area.
later, police nabbed four more persons on Monday who are stated to be a part of the racket. They were identified as Prakash Pradhan, Anil Minz, Amit Minz and Sunil Minz. Out of these arrested persons, Prakash Pradhan is working as Sanitary Inspector in Rourkela Municipal Corporation, Anil is working under Pradhan as a temporary worker, whereas Anil and Amit are RSP employees. Sources said, the racket is active in Sundargarh district for last four years and is stated to have looted hundreds of tribal youths of the district. Police also seized several fake appointment letters and several other documents.