Baripada: In a major crackdown on organised theft, Baripada Sadar Police have arrested six individuals involved in a spate of robberies targeting temples, homes, and offices in and around Baripada. The gang’s operations had caused significant concern among local residents, particularly after high-profile thefts at a gram panchayat office and a temple last month.
During a press briefing held at Baripada Sadar Police Station on Tuesday, Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Gochayat revealed that the arrested men included both the perpetrators of the thefts and the receivers of stolen goods. Among the items recovered were gold and silver ornaments, three motorcycles, five mobile phones, and ₹20,000 in cash.
The gang had first come under the police radar following the theft at the Bankishole Gram Panchayat office on the night of June 25.
The culprits had broken open the office lock and stolen items worth around ₹12 lakh, including laptops, computers, inverters, and batteries. Sarpanch Phulmani Marndi had filed a formal complaint regarding the incident.
The very next night, another major theft took place at the Ganesh Temple in Manchabandha near Saharasahi. The temple, located adjacent to the national highway, was looted of ornaments and other valuables also worth over ₹12 lakh. The matter was reported by local resident Deepak Kumar Agrawal, who owns a godown nearby.
These back-to-back incidents prompted an intensive investigation led by Baripada Sadar Police Station Officer Aditya Prasad Jena and Sub-Inspector Ajay Kumar Jena. With the help of CCTV footage from both crime scenes and surrounding areas, the police successfully tracked and apprehended the suspects.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to a series of similar thefts carried out across different police station jurisdictions.
These included burglaries at the Shani Mahagraha Peeth Hundi in Waliganj under Bhanjpur Police Station, Debashool Shiva Temple under Rasgobindpur Police Station, Dugadha Tarini Temple under Udala Police Station, and Kanak Durga Temple under Khunta Police Station.
The police also recovered melted gold and silver, indicating an attempt to dispose of the stolen ornaments.
All six arrested individuals have been produced before the court, and further investigation is ongoing to uncover possible additional accomplices and other cases linked to the gang.
