Bargarh: Bargarh police Sunday claimed to have arrested four members of an interstate gang involved in looting and dacoity cases. The arrested accused were identified as Indra Bhoi, 21, and Chaitanya Putta,19, residents of Dangaramunda village, Lalit Sahu,25, and Doleswar Sahu, 26, both residents of Banaras village under Saintala police limits in Bolangir district.
As per SP Prahlad Sahai Meena of Atabira police station, the gang’s modus operandi was to target farmers and women who had withdrawn money from the bank. Briefing the media, Meena said that, the accused gang members waylaid Chhayakanta Pradhan of Babebira village under Atabira police station when he was returning home after withdrawing cash from a bank June 20. At gunpoint, they looted Rs 4,38,352 and fled the scene.
Upon receiving the complaint, the police launched a probe and managed to arrest four gang members. Cops found that the accused were booked by various police stations on charges of loot and dacoity in other districts including Bolangir, Sambalpur and Subarnapur. The police recovered a pistol with live bullets, five bikes, and several gold and silver items. A case (No-226/24) was registered by Atabira police station under Sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.