Bhubaneswar: Police foiled a late-night robbery bid and arrested four members of a suspected looters’ gang, while one accomplice managed to escape near Joka Pokhari under Laxmisagar police limits, police said on Sunday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Kanha Lenka (25), Rampal (22), Balaram Bhoi (21), and Biswamohan Nayak (18).
Acting on a tip-off about a planned heist at a jewellery shop on Jagannath Nagar Main Road, police formed a special team and rushed to Joka Pokhari area under Laxmisagar police limits at around 11:50 pm on Friday.
On spotting the police team, the accused allegedly attempted to flee after brandishing deadly weapons, including swords, in a bid to intimidate the officers. However, police personnel chased them and managed to apprehend four suspects, while one fled the scene.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed that they had assembled at the spot with weapons to execute a robbery at Mahavir Jewellers located on Jagannath Nagar Main Road.
A subsequent search at the scene led to the seizure of several items, including two iron rods, a screwdriver, a hacksaw blade, a knife, a hammer, two swords, two packets of chilli powder, empty liquor bottles, plastic glasses, cigarette packets, a matchbox, a torchlight, and four black monkey caps.
Police said the accused have been forwarded to court, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding accomplice.
