Repeated loots by miscreants posing as cops give tough time to Berhampur police

Berhampur: A spree of loot incidents in last two months executed by miscreants impersonating as cops have now posed a serious challenge for the police department in Berhampur.

Three miscreants on Sunday allegedly looted gold ornaments weighing around 70 grams from a woman near Khaspa Sahi under Bada Bazaar police limits in Ganjam district. As per the complaint lodged by one Parbati Behera of Gauda Sahi, the three accused posing as policemen manipulated her to remove the gold ornaments she was wearing.

Later, the miscreants had fled the spot with the ornaments.

While the incident which surprisingly happened in broad daylight raised concern among city residents, it has turned out to be a nightmare for the local police who are yet to trace the looters.

It is not the first time such an incident has happened in Berhampur. Such skilful robbery manoeuvre by looters was also witnessed on February 10 earlier this month when an elderly couple was conned by three persons impersonating as CBI officers near Jayprakash Nagar Square in the Silk City.

Similarly, on January 29, some miscreants tried to loot a woman near the same spot by using exactly the same method, however, they couldn't succeed.

On August 12 last year, a woman named Sanjukta Padhi fell prey to trickery of four miscreants as they looted around 150 grams of gold ornaments from her by posing as policemen while she had gone for a morning walk near Sitadevi Khadanga Girls’ hostel in the city.

While such incidents have been occurring at regular incidents, questions have been raised on the alertness and efficacy of the police and more importantly on the lack of public awareness.

“We believe that police never ask for such things. We are urging everyone to stay more alert so as to thwart any such loot attempts by anti-socials,” SDPO Bishnu Prasad Pati said.