Jeypore Town police on Saturday arrested seven individuals for their involvement in three separate theft cases over the past few weeks.
Three accused—Bishal Nag (20), Rajib Sagar (18), and Ashok Hantal (22)—were apprehended for snatching a gold chain from 55-year-old Kanchana Gantayat on February 25 at New Market Chhak. The chain, valued at around Rs 1 lakh, was grabbed by two bike-borne miscreants and later sold to Ashok Hantal.
“We scanned footage from over 50 CCTV cameras across the town to track down the accused. They are habitual offenders with multiple cases against them,” said IIC Iswar Tandi of Jeypore Town police station.
Police also arrested Rabindra Bagh (33), Ashok Hantal (22), and Raja Choudhry (45) for looting the Odisha Blood Centre inside the old sub-divisional hospital premises between February 5 and 20. Stolen items included air conditioners, inverters, batteries, steel water taps, and iron chairs. “The accused confessed to selling the stolen items at local scrap shops. We have recovered inverters, 5 kg of copper, steel taps, iron angles, and LED TVs,” Tandi said.
In a third case, police busted a gang involved in looting a function hall in Jayanagar on January 20. Items such as plastic chairs and iron rods were traced to scrap dealer Sonu Penthia (38), who was arrested.
The arrests are a significant relief for Jeypore police, who faced criticism over the rising number of robberies in the town.
