Bhubaneswar: In what came as a breather from the incessant spate of audacious house break-ins in the Capital city that has created panic among citizens, the Commissionerate Police Friday busted a five-member gang of burglars who had emptied a house in Nayapalli area of cash and valuables, last week. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Prateek Singh said gold ornaments weighing 234 gm, silver weighing 439 gm and Rs 50,000 cash, along with other stolen items have been seized from the accused following their arrest.
The accused were identified as Momin Mallick, 30- the kingpin of the gang who is a native of East Medinipur district in West Bengal, Kishore Mohanty 23 from Jagatsinghpur district, Sk Orangzeb,22, from Dumduma area, Prabhat Sahoo, 22, from Balianta area and Ikalkul Rahman, 25, a native of Kendrapara district. Singh said a complaint was filed December 25 by one Abhimanyu Mohapatra alleging that some miscreants broke into his house in Nayapalli area late in the night and looted gold (ornaments) as well as cash.
Gathering clues from CCTV footage in the locality, the local police identified the burglars and rounded up the gang consisting of five members. Divulging more details, Singh said the accused used to do odd jobs like scrap collectors and mechanics during that time. However, they would gang up at night and target residential apartments, located in secluded areas, or those with minimal security presence.
Meanwhile, the police have learnt that the gang was involved in two more burglaries under Khandagiri and Badagarh police limits, respectively. The Nayapalli Police booked the accused under Sections 457 and 380 of IPC and produced them before a local court for remand.
DEBADURLLAV HARICHANDAN, OP
