Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Nov 2: Four notorious criminals involved in several cases of armed dacoities in the city were arrested by a special squad of the commissionerate police here Sunday. The four are reported to have executed the Aditya Care hospital robbery February 3 in 2014.
The accused were identified as Sanjay Nayak (25) of Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district, Pintu Digal (24) of Tikabali in Kandhamal, A Raja Babu Patra (21) of Buguda in Ganjam and Gagan Kumar Nayak (55) of Chandibasta in Nayagarh.
The fifth man of the gang, Tukuna Patra of Bhanjanagar (Ganjam) is absconding.
Nayak, a school dropout, is stated to be the gang leader and prime accused in the Aditya Care robbery case. He has two cases pending against him in his native village, one of dacoity and another violation of Explosive Substances Act. Nayak, at present, is serving a jail term, but the police did not reveal where he is lodged.
Nayak and his accomplices allegedly accosted the staffers of Aditya Care hospital when they were going to deposit Rs 17 lakh in Andhra Bank February 3, 2014 and looted the cash at gun point near Damana Square, the police said.
The gang had been involved in three other cases of dacoity in the city: Rudra Prasad Sharma was looted of his phone and motorcycle near Sainik School September 17, then the gang assaulted a man with dagger in Palasuni June 6 and snatched his gold chain. Again, it struck another victim August 28 and snatched Rs 10000 from him.
The police got lead into the case after discovering that one of the accused Gagan Kumar Nayak worked as office assistant at the hospital and an acquaintance of Nayak.
Police commissioner RP Sharma said the gang indulged in drinking and paid sex. “Once their money is spent, they plan their next crime,” Sharma said.
One pistol, two rounds of ammunition, two motorcycles, Rs 1.40 lakh and two mobile sets were seized from the gang.
The commissioner also said the squad stumbled upon the case while investigating a dacoity in front of Patia Big Bazaar September 21 in which Rs 15 lakh was looted. The arrested gang was not involved in the Big Bazaar loot.