In a significant breakthrough, Hirakud police have successfully solved a theft case reported last week, recovering gold and silver ornaments worth around Rs 15 lakh and cash amounting to Rs 7.97 lakh. The total value of the seized items stands at approximately Rs 23 lakh.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the case: Sanjay Pradhan (42) of HBL Colony, Shiv Shankar Jena (42) from the ITI Gujatal area, and Prashant Kumar Barik (39) of Substation Colony—all residents of Hirakud.
According to Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamoo, the accused fled to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after the theft. They handed over the stolen valuables to Prashant Kumar Barik and instructed him to return to Sambalpur after a month. It is noteworthy that Sanjay Pradhan has eight previous criminal cases registered against him.
The theft occurred in the early hours of July 24 at the residence of Rajendra Kumar Swain in SDO Colony under Hirakud police limits. The robbers broke into the home around 5 a.m. while the family was asleep, stealing cash and gold ornaments. After Swain filed a complaint at the Hirakud police station, a thorough week-long investigation was launched.
Police acted swiftly, tracing the movements of the suspects and arresting all three individuals. They have been produced before the court, with further investigations ongoing.
