Bhubaneswar: Police busts gang that used to steal phones and valuables to spend money on drugs

Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, Commissionerate Police busted a gang that used to steal mobile phones and valuables to spend money on drugs, arrested four members of it and seized several stolen phones and a gold chain from their possessions.

Pahal Police registered a case and launched a probe on the basis of a written report of the complainant Dinakrishna Mahala who had alleged that some miscreants had broken open the window of his house and stole cash, a mobile phone, a gold chain and a silver bracelet on the midnight of January 26/27, 2025. He also had mentioned that a bicycle had been stolen from his house before this incident (robbery).

During the investigation, police traced the stolen mobile phones through technical analysis and observation. After receiving reliable information, they arrested accused Kuna Pandab and Kulamani Sahu near Unit-4 Market in Bhubaneswar and recovered several stolen mobile phones from them.

During interrogation, both Kuna and Kulamani confessed to the crime and revealed that they had handed over the stolen gold chain to their associates Naresh Raut and Sanatan Behera. After further investigation, Naresh Raut and Sanatan Behera were also arrested. Based on the statements of both, a mobile phone and a gold chain stolen from a private bank were recovered and seized from their possessions.

The accused confessed to their involvement in this case and some other similar thefts. During investigation, it was found that accused Kuna was involved in 3 cases before, Kulamani in 3 cases, Sanatan in 2 cases and Naresh in 12 cases, informed the Commissionerate police.

The accused formed a gang to steal mobile phones and valuables and spent the money on drugs, it added.

Further investigation into this case is currently underway to find out the involvement of others in the gang.