Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, police arrested four persons Thursday in connection with loot of silver and gold ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh from a jewellery shop in Jatni on the outskirts of state capital.
The criminals had looted the shop after digging a 10-feet-long tunnel that led to the shop.
The police had started investigation into the matter over last twenty three days.
The accused were identified as Saroj Behera alias Bugula (26), Suryakanta Behera alias Prasanta (18), both from Rengala village under Delanga police limits in Puri district, and Prabhat Kumar Paudar(30) of Gharadia village in Delanga police limits and Rintua Santora of Chandini Chowk in Cuttack.
The accused were arrested on the basis of the complaint of Mahesh Kumar Santuka, owner of Gold Plaza Jewellery Shop at Raja Bazar under Jatni police limits.
According to police, Saroj and Suryakanta had dug the tunnel from a drain to enter the jewellery shop in the intervening night of July 21 and 22 and looted gold and silver ornaments. On the basis of the complaint, the police registered a case and started a probe.
During the investigation, the police examined footage of some CCTV cameras and found involvement of the Saroj and Suryakanta in the crime and arrested them. Two others— Prabhat and Rintua were arrested for buying the stolen items from the accused duo. The looted items were concealed in the house of Saroj.
Gold ornaments weighing 255 grams, silver ornaments worth 2100 grams and cash of Rs 1 lakh which they got after selling the gold and silver ornaments were recovered from Saroj and Suryakanta. Besides, two Hero Maestro motorcycles which were used in the crime were also seized.