Bhubaneswar: A series of daring thefts took place in Puincha village under the Baideshwar police station near Banki in Cuttack district on Saturday night.
The thieves struck while the villagers were busy watching a drama programme in the village on the occasion of Jagara Jatra.
According to reports, a gang of thieves broke into five houses, looting the gold ornaments worth lakhs of rupees and a huge amount of cash. The robbery occurred between 12:30 and 1:30 am, while the villagers were distracted by the cultural programme.
The police have launched an investigation and are conducting a search operation to apprehend the thieves. However, no arrests have been made so far.
The Jagar Yatra, which involves a play performed by the village youths, had drawn a large crowd. The thieves took advantage of the situation, breaking locks and looting valuables.
The police have urged the villagers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The incident has left the villagers in a state of shock.
Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, a villager, said, “When I woke up in the morning, my door was locked from the outside. I called my neighbours, who opened the door. I found the doors of my elder brother’s house broken. I and our neighbours entered the house and found all the furniture scattered. The cover cases of the gold and silver ornaments were found lying empty. My elder brother and his family are currently staying in Bhubaneswar. Taking advantage of their absence, the thieves committed the theft.”
