Koraput: Koraput police on Thursday arrested two home guard personnel, a ‘gram rakhi’, and two criminals for looting Rs 1.15 lakh cash from two people who came to Odisha from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The accused home guards are currently deployed at Padua police station in Odisha’s Koraput district.
According to reports, the incident occurred when two people from Andhra Pradesh, identified as Kamedi Chitibabu and Bisoi Bhimdar were going to Jeypore to buy a power tiller.
Owing to the prevailing heat wave, the two people from Andhra Pradesh stopped to take rest under a rest shed. While they were still in the rest shed, the five accused reached the place in a car and began assaulting them. Even before the people from Andhra could realize what was happening, the five accused snatched all their money and fled the spot.
The two men then lodged a written complaint at the Nandapur police in Koraput following which the police launched a manhunt to nab the culprits.
During the probe, it was found that a former Samiti member is the mastermind of the gang. The investigating team also ascertained the involvement of two home guards in the crime and arrested them.
The police seized Rs 80,000 cash, one Chevrolet car, and four mobile phones from the accused.
Meanwhile, Nandapur SDPO Sanjay Mahapatra told the media, “It is definitely a challenging task and also saddening. Out of the five accused, three are our staff, including two home guards and a ‘gram rakhi’. The two other accused are local criminals who were previously involved in ganja smuggling, extortion, and looting.”
“However, the law is equal for all, be it home guards, policemen, advocates, politicians, journalists, or criminals. Strict action will be taken against the accused as per law,” he said.
