Baripada: Eight persons were arrested here Wednesday by officials of the Sadar police station for their alleged involvement in the theft of gas cylinders. The thefts were reported from localities under three police stations in Mayurbhanj district. Police also seized 28 cylinders, a TATA pick-up van, an Indigo car and a number of mobile phones from their possessions. The persons were identified as Shakti Ranjan Pani, 28 and Soumya Ranjan Pani, 25, both residents of Sauri village under Kuliana police limits, Ajaya Kumar Behera, 22, a resident of Titri village, Sipu Singh, 27 and Umashankar Naik, 25, both from Balimundali village, Santu Chouhan, 36, staying in Pariakuli village, Nirmal Gochhayat of Tulasi Chaura area under Town police limits here and Raj Narayan Panigrahi, 50, a resident of Suthanga village under Khantapada police limits in Balasore district.
As per the police report, many gas cylinders were allegedly stolen from Dhanapur godown under Shamakhunta block, January 25, 2024. Sharada Prasanna Mohanta, the owner of the godown had lodged a written complaint in this regard at Sadar police station. Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation.
Police were tipped-off Wednesday about 10 gas cylinders being transported in a pick-up van and car. Police tracked the vehicles down and arrested five persons travelling in the van and car. During interrogation, Shakti confessed that he had stolen gas cylinders from the godown and had sold those to Santu, Nirmal and Raj. Police nabbed Santu, Nirmal and Raj and seized 18 cylinders from the possession of the three. Further investigation is on to ascertain the involvement of others in the racket, police said.