While the night curfew restrictions kept most of the residents to the confines of their homes in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar, a gang of looters made hay by taking advantage of the deserted streets and absence movement on roads.
On Monday, the Commissionerate police claimed to have busted the gang by rounding up seven of its operatives who struck multiple times during the night curfew which was in force till last week.
DCP Umashankar Dash said the gang was involved in a series of attack and robbery cases. He said the gang members include four hardened criminals while a manager at an OYO run hotel and a mobile repairing store owner teamed up with the former.
Dash said the gang was active during the night curfew restriction period since December. They would mostly target journalists, traders and others individuals who were allowed to travel during the restricted hours, between 10 pm to 5 am, by relieving them of their mobile phones, cash and other valuables.
The DCP said the gang was involved in 18 such cases. On the intervening night of January 13-14, they robbed cash, gold ring and other valuables from a journalist after attacking him. Significantly, the gang was involved as many as four robberies in one night on February 14. Moreover, a victim of the gang’s loot and attack at Nayapali is now undergoing treatment at a hospital, Dash added.
Sharing details about the gang, the Bhubaneswar DCP said one of the 7 accused worked as a manager at a OYO hotels under Tamando Police limits. However, in violation of the guidelines, he never shared details about the guests/visitors at the hotel with the police. It was at the same hotel the other members of the gang planned out their strategy before executing the robberies. They would cool off at the hotel after every strike, DCP Dash said adding that it was for this reason the manager, who was part of the gang, didn’t share information about the guests.
“Apart from the OYO hotel manager, we have also arrested a small mobile phone repairing shop owner in the city. He would break the password/ lock-screen pattern of the mobile phones looted by the gang members in order to make those fit for re-use and sale. A receiver of the stolen property is among the arrested accused,” said Dash adding that 21 mobile phones and some sharp weapons have been seized from the gang members.
They will be produced in a court where the police is likely seek their custody for interrogation, sources said.