Bhubaneswar: Infocity police have arrested three members of a looters’ gang for allegedly stealing mobile phones from outside Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the city and seized 26 mobile phones from their possession, officials said Monday.
The case came to light after Shubhamay Bera lodged a complaint alleging that his scooter and mobile phone were stolen from outside Anthem Global iON Digital Zone (IDZ-1), a CBT centre at Patia, on August 30. According to police, Bera had arrived at the centre to appear for the NEET examination. As it was raining heavily, he handed over his scooter key to a man posing as a parent waiting outside the centre and went inside for the examination. When he returned, he found that the man had fled with the scooter, which reportedly had his mobile phone in it.
During the investigation, police identified the accused as Dusmanta Subudhi, 35, of Gandarpur, and arrested him Monday near another examination centre while he was allegedly attempting a similar theft. Police also recovered the stolen Activa from his possession. According to police, Bera had arrived at the centre to appear for the NEET examination. As it was raining heavily, he handed over his scooter key to a man waiting outside the centre and proceeded inside for the examination.
During interrogation, Dusanta told investigators that he targeted students appearing for examinations and stole mobile phones kept inside vehicle compartments. He allegedly sold the stolen phones to Rakesh Kumar Sahoo, 28, owner of Master Mobile in Bapuji Nagar, and his associate Manas Behera, 30. Police subsequently raided the mobile shop and arrested Rakesh. Investigators alleged that he dismantled stolen phones and sold their components. Manas was also arrested near Patia railway station. Police seized 26 stolen mobile phones, 43 mobile displays and motherboards, and one scooter during the operation. All three accused were arrested and forwarded to the court with a prayer for 14-day remand.
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