Bhubaneswar: In a new and alarming technique, thieves made off with valuables worth lakhs from a woman at Bisra Dahar area under Uditnagar police limits, on Tuesday.
The victim, identified as Kiran Agarwal, was targeted while on her way to the temple.
According to reports, two robbers approached Kiran on a bike and engaged her in conversation. They claimed that her family was in danger and suggested a ritual to protect them.
The robbers convinced Kiran to hand over her ring and gold chain, telling her to place them in a bag. They instructed her to walk 51 steps while keeping her hand palm-closed and to open it only after the steps to “see the goddess.”
After following the instructions, Kiran discovered that the robbers had fled, with other accomplices waiting nearby on a bike. The thieves quickly escaped from the scene.
Kiran later approached the Uditnagar Police Station to file a complaint and an investigation has been launched to track down the culprits. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to gather more information.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nirmal Kumar Mohapatra urged the public to be cautious and avoid handing over valuables to strangers.
“We are verifying the incident through CCTV cameras and have mobilized additional forces to catch the miscreants. I urge everyone not to give their ornaments or other personal belongings to unknown individuals,” Mohapatra said.
