Bhubaneswar, June 10 : In a startling breach of security, four persons, including three women, have been arrested for allegedly stealing air conditioning (AC) units and copper wires from the Lok Seva Bhawan, the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar.
The accused have been identified as Urmila Pradhan, Krishna Bisoy, Kumari Pradhan, and Prafulla Kumar Jena. All four were reportedly working as labourers with authorised access to the Secretariat premises.
According to sources, the group exploited their access to the building and targeted the rooftop of the Rural Development Department’s conference hall. There, they dismantled outdoor AC units and extracted copper wiring to sell the materials for profit.
The theft came to light when concerned officials noticed the missing equipment and lodged a formal complaint at the Capital Police Station, prompting a swift investigation.
Police launched a probe and analysed CCTV footage from in and around the Lok Seva Bhawan. The suspects were soon identified, and all four were apprehended. Law enforcement also recovered several outdoor AC units and copper wires from their possession.
Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.
