Sambalpur: Sambalpur Police claimed to have arrested nine persons of an inter-state gang including the mastermind for their involvement in thefts of more than 30 cases of Iron made DI pipes used in the state government’s underground water pipeline work done by RWSS.
The arrested mastermind of the criminal gang has been identified as Muna alias Md. Imran (32) of Bhutapadar, Masjidgali within Dhanupali PS in Sambalpur. The other accused persons are identified as Basudev Oram (31), Jashobanta Bhoi (31), Bikash Das (27), Firoz Khan (45), Amit Samanta (47), Sandip Kumar Agarwal (44), Sanjeev Pandit (41), and Anil Pansari (52).
According to Hirakud police, the accused persons were running an organized Inter State racket under the mastermind of Md. Imran for committing theft of Iron made DI pipes. They had formed a team and segregated work among themselves. Some Gang members were assigned the work of doing recce in different districts and identifying the spot. After that, they planned to commit theft by utilizing heavy vehicles and transport to transfer the DI Pipes to neighbouring states for money.
Further, they used two motorcycle pilots to escort the Heavy vehicle containing stolen property for smooth passage as well as to avoid any suspect, the police said adding that a total of 10 mobile phones, two cars and one truck, 31 DI Pipes of 250 mm and Rs 87,000 cash from them.
Preliminary Investigation reveals that the gang has committed more than 30 similar types of offences in Boudh, Bolangir, Sonepur Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Sambalpur. The investigation is underway to apprehend other accused persons involved in this organized racket, the police added.
