Post news network
Bhubaneswar: Mancheswar police Tuesday arrested 10 persons, including four girls, on charges of looting people on the pretext of providing escort services.
The miscreants were identified as Brahmananda Padhi alias Pappu (32) and Sibananda Das alias Dipu (25) of Ganjam district, Jibanendu Das alias Jiban (32) and Biswa Ranjan Das alias Bulu (28) of Balianta, who has passed Class XII, Ranjan Nayak alias Ranjia (39) of Naharkanta, who has passed Class IX and Bunty alias Akash alias Prasanjit Mohanty (22) of Balianta, who has completed Class X.
Three girls are from Kolkata, while one is from Bihar, said the police. The girls who are aged between 19 and 32 years, have not studied upto Class X, police said.
“The miscreants used to lure people and loot them. Their modus operandi was very unique. They used to contact customers on phone and claim to provide them escort services. Once the customers arrived, the girls used to take them to a secluded place and loot them with the help of their associates,” said twin city Police Commissioner Rajendra Prasad Sharma.
“One Pranab Goel of Kalahandi had gone to Balasore November 30 on business. He then travelled to Cuttack where he boarded an autorickshaw for Bhubaneswar. On the way, he stopped at Nakhara where he met a girl who promised to provide escort services. The girl then took him in a car to a secluded place in Hanspal area where her associates were waiting,” Sharma said.
“The girl and her nine associates thrashed him and took away Rs 7, 000 and a gold chain from him. They took Goel to a nearby ATM kiosk and made him withdraw Rs 20, 000 each twoce and Rs 11, 000 the third time. The miscreants then dropped Goel near Hanspal area and fled,” Sharma said.
Goel is the son of a Kalahandi based BJP leader, according to sources.
“Goel had reportedly contacted one of the girls for escort services and was asked to stop at Nakhara,” said a source.
“A complaint in this regard was lodged with us November 30 evening. A case has been registered. All the miscreants were produced in court Tuesday,” Mancheswar police station inspector-in-charge Himanshu Bhusan Swain said.
The police said they have seized Rs 47,000, three cars, two motorcycles, a gold chain weighing 20 grams and 12 mobile phones from them.
“The kingpin of the gang is Brahmananda, who has been staying on rent for several years at the Housing Board Colony in Chandrasekharpur area. At least seven cases, including attempt to murder, rape and robbery, have been registered against him at the Mahila police station and the Laxmisagar, Badagada, Khandagiri and Chandrasekharpur police stations. We are also investigating whether the others have any criminal records,” said Sharma.
