The Commissionerate Police have successfully apprehended three members of an interstate gang notorious for looting ATMs across various states.
The arrests were made after an intense encounter near Badagada in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
The primary suspect, identified as Deepak Kumar from Bihar, was the first to be arrested following the encounter. His associates, Abhisekh Kumar and Dipak Pandey, both hailing from Bihar and Jharkhand, were subsequently taken into custody.
The gang employed a unique method to execute their crimes. They used glue to cause ATM cards to get stuck inside the machines. Victims, in their attempt to retrieve their cards, would then call a fake helpline number displayed on a poster inside the kiosk. This number was operated by other gang members stationed outside, who would then gain access to the victims’ credentials and withdraw money from their accounts.
The gang’s criminal activities spanned across multiple states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The Police Commissioner disclosed that they were involved in two cases in Bihar, one in Jharkhand, and four cases in Odisha, including notable incidents in Puri on January 3 and March 9, 2025.
Authorities suspect the gang comprises more members and are coordinating with police from other states to track down the remaining suspects.
