Inter-state loot & snatching gang busted, 5 arrested
The accused have been identified as Rajendra Pingua, 32,, Deepak Gope, 30, and Saroj Keshari, 32, all hailing from West Singbhum district of Jharkhand. The receivers, Shivprakash Prasad, 54, and Rajendra Prasad, 50, were apprehended in Jharkhand's East Singbhum. The gang is believed to have been involved in numerous criminal activities across Odisha and neighbouring states.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Barbil, Debendra Pingua, said the gang was actively engaged in multiple robbery cases in Barbil, Joda and Champua areas of Keonjhar district.
Acting on intelligence, police conducted a cross-border raid in Jharkhand, resulting in the arrest of all five accused. The initial arrests were made in Barbil, leading to further apprehensions.
The gang reportedly sold the stolen gold jewellery in a Jharkhand-based shop, leading to the arrest of its two owners. "The arrests are a major success in our efforts to tackle inter-state organised crime," said Pingua.
Keonjhar police have intensified their probe to track down other gang members and prevent future incidents. Rajendra is linked to 10 cases across 10 police stations, Saroj to 8 cases, and Deepak to 3 cases in both Keonjhar and Jharkhand.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Blood Covenant': Iranian crowdfunding website claims to have raised $40 million to assassinate Trump; ‘call to Jihad' say analysts
Donald Trump (AP) A crowdfunding campaign that promised $40 million for the assassination of US President Donald Trump was linked to a former employee of Iran's main state-run propaganda outlet. The campaign was reportedly organised by a group called 'Blood Covenant,' which pledged to bring 'justice' for actions committed by 'militants.' According to the US-based think tank Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), the group allegedly operated under the 'aegis of the Iranian regime,' as reported by the New York Post. 'We pledge to award the prize to whoever can bring the militants and those who threaten the life of the Deputy of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him) to justice for their actions,' the group had posted on its website. MEMRI described the campaign as 'a call to jihad, inviting believers to donate their money and sacrifice their lives.' It added, 'The fact that these calls to assassinate Trump were coming from above and echoed in the street and through all strata of society, including in the Iranian media… reflected a broad religious and regime consensus strengthened by reiterated emphasis on the reward anyone carrying out the punishment against Trump could expect to receive — in addition to the $40.3 million, also Paradise and the status of a defender of Islam. ' An individual named Hossein Abbasifar, an Iranian citizen, was 'unmasked' by Max Lesser and Maria Riofrio, analysts at the foundation for defence of democracies (FDD), who suggested he was involved with the Blood Covenant group. 'The man apparently behind it, Hossein Abbasifar, appeared to have once worked for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the regime's main propaganda network,' their analysis stated. The FDD connected Abbasifar to the campaign through metadata analysis of the Blood Covenant website. Lesser and Riofrio also claimed Abbasifar had worked as a specialist at a state-run radio network called 'Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran.' 'The US government has an opportunity to set an example by holding him accountable,' they wrote, noting that identifying the creators of the website could help 'levy targeted sanctions against those responsible.' A senior US State Department official said on Friday that the administration was aware of the threats and remained committed to holding 'bad actors accountable,' according to the Washington Free Beacon. 'This means using every tool at our disposal, including sanctions, to implement the president's maximum pressure strategy,' the official added. The development came after Iran's top Shiite religious authority issued a 'fatwa' or religious decree last month against Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The fatwa, declared by Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, called on Muslims to bring down both leaders for allegedly threatening the leadership of the Islamic Republic. The decree labelled any individual or institution that threatened the unity and leadership of the global Islamic community as 'mohareb' or 'warlord', someone waging war against God or regarded as an 'enemy of God.'
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Theft bid at Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank in Palamu foiled
1 2 Daltonganj: Town police foiled a theft attempt at the Belwatika branch of the Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, police said. The officer in-charge of the town police outpost, Rakesh Kumar Singh, said, "Police got a call about suspected movement of people near the branch around 12:30 am on Sunday. Tiger mobile cops reached the site but the thieves had fled. " A gas cutting cylinder, an oxygen cylinder, screwdrivers and wrenches were seized, police added. OC Singh said, "A family that lives in the area rang the branch manager when the CCTV cameras sounded alarms. The branch manager called the police." Sources said Rs 10 lakh was stolen from this branch a week before the Vidhan Sabha polls. The then bank official had left the keys for the chest on the table. A case was lodged with the town police in November 2024. It remains unsolved. Sadar SDPO Mani Bhushan Prasad said, "The case is being probed."
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
14 held in EAGLE decoy operation in Gachibowli
Fourteen people, including software professionals, a student, and other private sector workers, were caught trying to purchase marijuana during a decoy operation conducted by Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) in Gachibowli, on Saturday, July 12. The buyers arrested were identified as Naveen, 31, an online trader; Ayush, 22, a student; Nikhil, 29, an engineer; Sindura, 26, an architect; Hasan, 34, a property manager; Kranti, 28, an IT employee; Akhil, 28, a dental technician; Shiva, 32, a business relationship manager; Sandesh, 34, a freelance ad professional; Sai Raj, 31, a real estate sales executive; Akhil, 26, who runs a travel agency; Swamy, 27, a driver; Thushar, 24, an IT employee; and Arpith, 24, also an IT employee. During the operation, EAGLE officers in plain clothes positioned themselves around the area based on intelligence about a Maharashtra-based repeat offender named Sandeep, who had been selling marijuana to customers in the IT corridor. Superintendent of Police (SP) of EAGLE Ch. Rupesh said that Sandeep reportedly arrives with five kilograms of marijuana, split into 100 packets of 50 grams each, selling them for ₹3,000 per packet. 'He keeps a list of over 100 regular customers, including their contact numbers, and uses coded WhatsApp messages like 'bhai baccha a gaya bhai' to announce availability,' explained the SP. All 14 consumers were caught in the act and tested positive for cannabis on the spot using urine drug test kits. 'One of the accused had come with his wife and four-year-old son. While the woman and child were let off, the man tested positive. In another case, both husband and wife attempted to buy marijuana. Despite the woman initially trying to bluff her way out, both tested positive for cannabis,' added the SP. EAGLE officers are now analysing digital evidence from seized phones, including WhatsApp logs and contact databases, to identify other buyers and expand the investigation. The 86 remaining regular consumers on Sandeep's list were advised to seek rehabilitation before further enforcement action is taken.
