Cuttack: Even as the police keep vigil on highways to bust illegal trade, a looter gang moved around and burgled houses in the Silver City.
According to reports, the gang, which is responsible for about 15 loots in Cuttack in past two months, has become a matter of concern for both the city-dwellers as well as the Commissionerate Police.
Earlier, Cuttack-Choudwar Development Committee president Manas Parida and secretary Sanjeev Mohanty filed a complaint at the DCP office alleging police inaction, but to no avail.
Parida alleged that policemen were involved in extracting money from truck drivers and heavy vehicle operators on the National Highways 16 and 55. He said, “While the policemen are busy seizing illegal stuff from highways, a looter gang had a field day in the city.”
Parida further alleged that despite being present in the police beat during night hours, on-duty cops patrol highways in order to seize illegal trade and receive lucrative sums from people involved in illegal business.
According to reports, the looters in late hours of December 26 looted valuables from four locked houses and gold ornament worth around 10 lakhs from a temple on the premises of New LIC Colony under Badambadi police limits.
The miscreants again made a move Thursday night and entered the house of Sudarshan Hati, a businessman and a resident of Jyoti Vihar under Bidanasi police limits. The thieves broke the window panes and made away with `10,000 and gold valuables weighing about 70grams.
Similarly, the racket targeted a house belonging Anil Mohapatra of Bidanasi area and entered the house Friday night by breaking the front entrance grill. The miscreant fled with valuables.
Recently, the looter gang entered a jewellery shop in Balubazaar under Lalbagh police limits in the wee hours of December 31. They broke the lock of the front entrance shutter and decamped with gold ornaments worth about `6 lakh. On the basis of a complaint filed by the shop owner, Prabhat Sahu, police registered a case (194/17) and launched a probe.
However, some locals alleged that police have registered a plaint regarding the loots but failed to nab the anti-socials.
They also alleged that lack of proper patrolling by the cops during night has given rise to a series of loots in the city.
Social activist Dipak Acharya said, “Instead of busting the gang, police are busy collecting money from vehicles found trafficking animals.”
Denying the allegations, DCP Akhileswar Singh said, “Every possible step is being taken to nab the looters.” He said, “If allegations about policemen extorting money come to notice, stern actions will be taken against those personnel.” This apart, IICs and SPs of nearby areas have been directed to carry out patrolling, he added.
PNN
