Notorious dacoity gang arrested in Kandhamal for looting contractor; 5 held with firearms

In a major breakthrough against organized crime, Kandhamal district’s Tumudibandh police on Monday claimed to have achieved a significant success by apprehending a five-member dacoity gang involved in a daring robbery. The police team not only arrested all the gang members but also recovered a cache of weapons, a looted car, and a substantial amount of stolen cash.

More About The Incident

According to official sources, the incident took place late at night when a local contractor, identified as Bijay Mishra from the Lathikata area, was travelling from Baliguda towards Bhawanipatna. As he approached the Jalespata bridge near Tumudibandh, he was ambushed by the gang. The armed assailants reportedly followed him in a vehicle, intercepted his car, and launched a violent attack before fleeing with his car and Rs 1 lakh in cash, mobile phone and other articles.

Acting swiftly on the complaint and leads, the Tumudibandh police formed a special team and launched a high-intensity operation to track down the culprits. Within a short period, they succeeded in apprehending all five members of the gang. Among the arrested, four hail from the Baliguda area, while one belongs to the Sarangagarh region. The prompt action of the police ensured that the stolen items were recovered before the gang could escape to another district.

Major Seizures

During the arrest, the police seized two country-made firearms, sharp weapons used in the robbery, a vehicle used by the gang, and the looted car and money belonging to the contractor. The gang had been reportedly operating in the region for a while, targeting lone travellers and businessmen moving with cash during late hours.

Speaking to the media, a senior police official from Kandhamal praised the quick response of the Tumudibandh police team. 

“Armed dacoits had looted Rs 1 lakh cash, mobile phone, and vehicle of a contractor and escaped from the spot. Later, a police team rushed to the spot and recovered all the stolen articles from the accused,” informed Baliguda SDPO, Ramendra Prasad.

The arrested individuals are currently in police custody and are being interrogated. A formal case has been registered, and efforts are underway to identify any other members or accomplices who may have assisted in the crime. With this crackdown, the Kandhamal police have sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the region and reaffirmed their dedication to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.