Hrusikesh MohantyBerhampur: Police on Saturday busted a motorcycle-lifting gang with the arrest of three members and recovery of a dozen stolen two-wheelers from Ganjam district’s Aska. The accused persons used the stolen motorcycles by changing the number plates and fake registration numbers to commit crimes like chain snatching and looting.The accused persons were identified as A Santosh (22), D China (20) of Gandapalli and P Ajaya (22) of Thengapalli under Aska police limits, said police. The accused persons have multiple cases in different police stations in Ganjam and other districts, which are under verification, police said.SK Sahu, inspector-in-charge, Aska police station, said they formed three teams and conducted vehicle checking after they got reliable information about some motorcycle with a fake registration number was moving in the area. During the raids, they detected one of the accused persons. Others were arrested after getting information from him, police said.The accused persons stole the two-wheelers from different crowded places in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Tangi, Kabisurya Nagar, Banapur etc in the last one year, they said. After lifting the vehicles, they immediately changed their number plates and used them in other areas for committing crimes. All the stolen vehicles were recovered from their residences, police said.In a related development, Nimakhandi police in Berhampur on Saturday handed over seven gold chains, which were recovered from the accused persons, to the rightful owners following the legal procedures. The weight of the gold chains was around 80.40 grams, worth around Rs 10 lakh. These chains were snatched by the miscreants on different dates in 2024-26 in Nimakhandi police station area. Earlier, police arrested five chain-snatchers, including a receiver of stolen chains. (EON)
