Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: In a major breakthrough, the state police have arrested 21 itinerant traders from West Bengal on suspicion of involvement in theft-related activities. A large cache of items, including mobile phones, batteries, cartons of liquor, five tablets, ornaments and 11 motorcycles, was seized from their possession.
According to police sources, the accused were engaged in door-to-door trading during the daytime, while allegedly carrying out thefts at night. The police are probing their possible involvement in a series of recent temple thefts reported in the Bhanjanagar area.
The arrested persons hail from various parts of West Bengal, including Murshidabad (Kashipur), Nadia, Panipia, Bhin Nagar and Kulbuna. Police said the group used to collect hair, mobile phones and unwanted ornaments from villagers in exchange for aluminium utensils and other aluminium items.The arrested accused have been identified as Jayanta Mondal, Rabiul Mala, Amrit Maldar, Ramin Maldar, Shubhajit Mondal, Anjan Maldar, Kishore Maldar, Milan Mondal, Amrit Das, Palasa Sarkar, Pradip Maldar, Mukhtar Sheikh, Indrajit Mondal, Bipul Haldar, Nikhil Pal, Ranjan Das, Prasannajit Das, Sudip Pal, and Amjad Sheikh, all from Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
A case has been registered at Bhanjanagar Police Station as Case No. 92/21, and all the accused have been arrested and forwarded to court.
In this connection, a press briefing was held on Saturday afternoon in the presence of Additional SP Ranjan Kumar De, SDPO Dr. Deepak Kumar Mishra, Police Station Officer Jibananda Jena, along with other administrative officers and police officials.
