Police foil dacoity bid, arrest 5

Koraput: Kashipur police in Rayagada district foiled a planned dacoity and arrested five persons for allegedly preparing to commit the crime near Shiva Temple in Kashipur early on Wednesday.

During the operation, police solved three pending property offence cases linked to the accused.The arrested men have been identified as Dambarudhar Naik alias Ankit (20), Dholu alias Manoj Naik (27), Rabi Majhi (26), Akash Badanaik (25) and Bhagirathi Naik alias Bhogi (30), all residents of Kashipur area, police said.According to police, a patrol team received a tip-off during night patrolling that a group of anti-social elements had assembled near the temple with weapons and were planning to commit dacoity.

Acting swiftly, the police, accompanied by independent witnesses, conducted a raid and apprehended the suspects after a brief chase.During the search, police seized a motorcycle, a sword, two iron rods, two bamboo sticks and small packets of chilli powder, among others allegedly intended for use during the planned crime.A case was registered at Kashipur police station under relevant provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to their involvement in three earlier property-related offences registered at Kashipur police station. “Based on their disclosures, we recovered stolen property linked to the cases, including a bed, a motorcycle, a gas cylinder, a gas stove, cooking utensils, a rice container and egg crates,” said additional IIC Gopabandhu Mallick of Kashipur police station.The accused were produced before the court following their arrest. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether they were involved in any other criminal activities in the region, Mallick said.