Berhampur: A special police team Thursday arrested five members of a looters’ gang here in Ganjam district. Police also seized 13 stolen motorcycles and 57 mobile phones from their possession. Among the arrested accused, two were ring leaders and two were minors. They were involved in two-wheeler and mobile theft mostly at MKCG Medical College and Hospital and Kamapalli vending zone area, informed Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M in a press conference organised at the police headquarters Friday.
The accused were identified as L Siba Reddy (26) of Gokarnapur village under Digapahandi police limits and Srikanta Padhi (30) of Kankaradha village under Patapur police limits, Upendra Nayak of Aliabad in Ganjam district, and the two minors are from Kandhamal and Hinjilikatu respectively. They were targeting the relatives of patients lodged at MKCG hospital. After committing the crime they sell the stolen vehicles at cheaper prices to outsiders elsewhere or use these vehicles for ganja smuggling, said the police. As per reports, the minors were sent to a child correction home after being presented at Juvenile Justice Board whereas the other three were forwarded to court Friday against the case (No-370/23).