Gang involved in loot of passengers on ‘Mo Bus’ busted; seven held

The Commissionerate Police on Tuesday busted a gang of seven members who looted passengers in Mo Bus. The police have seized Rs 57,000 and nine cell phones from their possession.

All the robbers belong to Cuttack, informed Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Prateek Singh.  

Briefing on the modus operandi, Singh said, “The accused regularly boarded city bus from Baramunda and travelled to Cuttack. During the travel, they targeted passengers and looted cash and valuables from them."

"Two complaints each were filed against them at Nayapalli police station and Sahid Nagar Police station. Besides, one case each was filed against them at Capital Police station and Khandagiri police station. During interrogation, they have admitted to have involved in these cases. We are trying to nab the accused involved in such loot cases reported from Cuttack,” Singh added.  

Notably, miscreants on September 16 looted two mobile phones from the passengers of Mo Bus in Bhubaneswar. Though police swung to action after getting information, the looters managed to flee the scene.

Besides, Rs 42,000 was looted from a couple travelling on Mo Bus. The couple had filed a complaint in this regard.  Meanwhile, the Commissionerate Police have returned Rs 35,000 from the stolen money. 

He said, “I was travelling in Mo Bus. When I was going to deposit money worth Rs 42,000 to get back mortgaged ornaments I fell prey to them. I suspected a co-passenger of stealing my purse. When I did not find my purse, I shouted and asked the bus driver to stop the van. The concerned bus driver didn't stop the vehicle even for a minute for them. Had he stopped the bus there only, the criminal could have been nabbed at that moment.”

He thanked the media and Commissionerate Police to return his hard-earned money nine days after the incident.

It is pertinent to mention here that the incidents of pickpockets are on a rise in Bhubaneswar. The police have been claiming to have kept things under control, but the unabated spike in pickpockets and loots in Mo Bus has only kept the commuters on their toes.