In a major breakthrough, Bhubaneswar police have arrested four members of the dreaded Pushpa Gang, including the wife of the gang’s fugitive leader, following a brutal sword attack in the Gautam Nagar area.
The gang’s leader, P. Ramulu alias Pushpa, remains at large, and a search operation is underway to apprehend him.
The arrests come just two days after the gang allegedly unleashed terror in Gautam Nagar Basti near Kalpana Chhak under Badagada police limits. On Thursday evening, miscreants wielding swords attacked residents, leaving an elderly woman seriously injured and sparking tension in the locality. Locals have long nicknamed the group the “Pushpa Gang” due to their imitation of the aggressive, weapon-brandishing style from the blockbuster movie *Pushpa*.
According to police, the arrested individuals include the wife of gang leader Pushpa, and associates Aditya, Pratyush, and Sangram. They were produced in court and remanded after interrogation. The gang has been involved in multiple violent incidents across Badagada, Laxmisagar, and other pockets, including highway robberies and armed intimidation using swords and other weapons. They are also accused in a murderous attack on a lawyer during Ganesh Puja celebrations, among other cases.
Badagada police, acting on the Commissioner of Police’s directives, conducted swift raids leading to the arrests. Station Officer Triptiranjan Nayak confirmed that the operation targeted the gang’s core members and close aides. The accused have been terrorising locals by brandishing swords and creating panic. We are intensifying efforts to nab the main accused, Pushpa alias P. Ramulu,” he said.
The recent Gautam Nagar incident involved 3-4 assailants entering the basti and attacking with swords, injuring the elderly victim gravely. Police seized weapons and are probing links to earlier crimes. Residents have welcomed the arrests, hoping it will restore peace in the affected neighbourhoods.
Authorities urged citizens to report any sightings of the fugitive leader or related suspicious activities.
