Odisha police have arrested Bikash Ray (32), the alleged mastermind behind the Panikoili jewellery shop robbery and double murder that occurred on January 4, 2024. Authorities announced the capture on Saturday.
Ray was apprehended by a special Panikoili police team from the Motihari area near the Bihar-Nepal border late Thursday night. A resident of Bihar, he is believed to have orchestrated the robbery while serving a jail term in Bihar and was released on bail just weeks before the heist. The release prompted Odisha police to intensify their investigation.
The January 4 incident involved an armed gang storming a jewellery showroom in Panikoili Bazar, tragically resulting in the deaths of a customer and an employee. The assailants escaped with gold ornaments and cash valued at several lakhs.
This arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Manjit Choudhary (23), a Bihar native residing in Uttar Pradesh, who was taken into custody in January. Two additional suspects were also arrested on the day of the robbery.
Police continue to investigate the case to identify other accomplices and recover any remaining stolen property.
