Baliguda: Police at Sarangada in Kandhamal district Sunday arrested three members of an interstate robbery gang and seized multiple weapons, including a Mauser pistol, an air gun and sharp-edged weapons, during a routine motor vehicle check on the Phulbani–Baliguda road.
Two other suspects, including the mastermind, managed to flee the scene and remain at large. The three arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Arif Ansari, 23, Shahaban Shah, 18, and Sheikh Mustafa, 18, all residents of Maharashtra.
Police have registered a case under Sarangada police station and have launched a manhunt to apprehend the remaining two suspects.
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According to police, the incident unfolded when a suspicious Alto car carrying five individuals was stopped by Sarangada police officers. Upon searching the vehicle, police recovered a Mauser pistol, an air gun, a machete, two knives, and some cash.
During questioning, the suspects failed to provide credible explanations regarding their activities and possessions, leading to their arrest. G Udayagiri SDPO Vijay Kumar Bishi confirmed the arrests and stated that further investigation is ongoing.
PNN