Rayagada: Police arrested here Wednesday four members, including two women, of a group whose modus operandi was to loot men after luring them through honey trap.
The accused have been identified as Bulu Swain (43), Lucky Mahanandia (20), Kabita Bhatra (36) and Sushama Nayak (25). One of their accomplices however, managed to give the police a slip.
Six mobile phones, a gold chain and a large amount of money were recovered from their possession. All the accused were produced in court Wednesday and remanded to police custody.
Sources said, Prabhakar Samantray from Jagannathpur area under Jatni police limits in Khurda district had come here February 5 for some personal work. He had stayed at Basudev Lodge here. He had gone to the Rayagada Railway Station for the confirmation of his return ticket when he fell prey to the gang, February 7.
The two women struck up a conversation with Prabhakar and then coaxed him to accompany them to Bhusi jungle, 1.5 km from the station. However, when the trio reached a desolate spot, the three men appeared out of nowhere brandishing sharp weapons. The five then robbed Prabhakar of his mobile phone, gold chain and whatever money he had on him.
Initially Prabhakar on return to his village did not reveal the details of his misfortune to anyone. However, after some time he narrated his plight to a couple of villagers who convinced him to lodge an FIR with the police.
“That gang had been active in that area for some time now. We were not being able to take any action as none of the victims had lodged complaints out of shame,” said a police official.
PNN