Highway robbery gang busted, 7 held

JAIPUR: WITH the arrest of seven persons, the district police on Friday claimed to have busted a gang of highway robbers who snatched jewellery and cash from bikers at gun and knife point. Police also seized four motorcycles, two country-made revolvers, 13 mobile phones, live cartridges, two bhujalis, four ATM cards, three driving licences, cash of `3000, gold and silver ornaments besides explosives from their possession.

The accused are Sourav Sahoo (24), Ajaya Rout (23) and Rajesh Dhal of Dhenkanal, Diptiranjan Parida (26), Dibyajyoti Sahoo (20), Sagar Behera (25) and Pankaj Behera (26) of Danagadi in Jajpur district. Police busted the gang after getting a tip off on Thursday night that a group of youths were assembled on Deuli hilltop in Dharmasala and planning to commit dacoity in the area. Jajpur SP Charan Singh Meena said a police team led by SDPO Kedarnath Sahu reached the spot and managed to nab seven persons while three other members of the gang managed to escape.

The gang only targeted bikers on National Highways 16 and 200. “So far, the arrested youths have admitted their involvement in 28 snatching cases along highways in Jajpur and Dhenkanal districts,” the SP said. The gang is involved in 19 cases of robberies and snatching in Jajpur and nine in Dhenkanal. It was mainly operating along two highways in Barachana, Balichandrapur, Jenapur, Dharmasala, Kuakhia, Korei and Panikoili areas for the last couple of months, he said. The remaining three members of the gang will be arrested soon, Meena added.