Parlakhemundi: Acting on a tip-off, the Town police busted a bike-lifting gang and arrested three persons for their involvement in motorcycle-lifting during a raid here in Gajapati district Friday.
The raid team also seized seven two-wheelers and an engine from their possession. The three accused have been identified as Prasant Patnaik (19) of Paralakhemundi, Gopinath Nayak (19) of Bhubaneswar and Balram Paika (26) of Bhandari Sahi.
On the other hand, two minor members of the gang are absconding, police said.
According to police, the gang mostly targeted crowded malls, bus-stands, banks and other places to lift the vehicles. They looted bikes using duplicate keys and sold them at very less prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 in other parts of the districts.
The miscreants had looted the motorbike of a local, Mahendratanaya Brij while he had gone to a bank December 4. Acting on his complaint, the town police were on the lookout for the gang.
During a vehicle checking operation, police intercepted the three at Jangamsahi Chhak while they were going on a motorbike. When the accused failed to produce documents of the vehicle they were travelling, the police detained them on suspicion. During interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in the bike-lifting.
A case has been registered against the three. They will be produced in a court. Notices have been sent to the guardians of the two minors to produce them in juvenile justice board, police said. Further investigation is on to find the involvement of more persons in the racket, police added.
PNN