Odisha:10 arrested for looting rice mills since Apr

Sambalpur police busted an inter-district gang of dacoits by arresting 10 members on Wednesday. The gang was involved in 15 cases of robbery in rice mills in different police stations in Sambalpur district besides two each in Bargarh and Sundargarh, and one each in Balangir and Jharsuguda.

The first dacoity was executed at Durga Rice Mill in Rengali on April 8, 2024, whereas the recent four cases have been reported on Tuesday, two under Burla and one each under Rengali and Sadar police station limits.

Out of 10 members, seven accused belong to Rengali, two are from Bareipali in Sambalpur district while another accused is from Barpali in Bargarh district. Around 480 grams gold, 165 grams silver and 35 silver coins, Rs 5.12 lakh cash, two SUVs, two tractors and five two-wheelers were seized from them. Police also seized weapons and tools from them. Police said the gang members used to switch off their phones before going to the spot and switch it on after committing the crime. They knew that labourers would be paid between 1st and 10th of every month, hence there would be cash in the rice mill. They used masks and gloves to avoid identification.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.