Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 16: Five men who are allegedly part of a gang of bike looters were arrested from various places in the state by Capital police Thursday. As many as 12 bikes were recovered from them, police said.
Those arrested were identified as Babu Das (23) alias Raja of Jharna Basti in Mancheswar, Toofan Behera alias Geda (25) of Saliasahi at Nayapalli, Kartika Panda (19) of Seabeach in Puri, Rajesh Kumar Barik (20) alias Raja and Nandakishore (32) both of Pipli in Puri.
Raja and Geda were arrested while they were trying to steal a bike from Capital Hospital premises, said Capital police additional inspector Vanita Moharana. The other three were arrested from Pipli, Brahmagiri and Satpada.
Moharana said Raja and Geda allegedly lifted bikes as they knew the city well. “They would mostly steal bikes from Forest Park, Unit 1 and IG Park area,” the inspector said. The other three disposed the bikes. They would take the morning train towards the city, work in coordination with Geda and Raja in the heist here and then leave with the stolen bikes, Moharana said.
Most of the stolen bikes are sold in the second-hand market, while some end up in the scarp market, police said.
Geda has allegedly been involved previously in the murder of Ghana Parida in Brahmagiri. Raja has allegedly been involved in the bombing and firing at a block chairman in Pipli.
A case has been registered against the five accused who were charged with theft.
