Odisha police recovers ₹3.51 crore from robbers

Accused hailing from Jharkhand had looted huge cash from a country liquor factory in Kalahandi district of Odisha 

In one of the largest cash seizures, Odisha’s Kalahandi Police busted an inter-State gang, recovering ₹3.51 crore in cash, along with firearms, ammunition, and vehicles used in the crime.

All the accused, who belong to Ranchi district of Jharkhand, were identified as Tahir Ansari, Hussain Khan, Jasim Khan, Samim Ansari, Vasudev Gope and Pintu alias Aleem, and Anuj Kumar.

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“On the night of January 30, a group of around eight armed robbers stormed a country liquor factory in Dharmagarh. Wielding deadly weapons, they held the staff at gunpoint and decamped with a huge cash amount,” Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania said.

Following registration of a case in Dharmagarh police station, a special team was formed under the leadership of Kalahandi SP Abhilash G. to arrest the robbers and raids were conducted at various places.

“After the robbery, the accused fled the scene in a jeep. During the initial investigation, local police arrested two suspects, Siraj Ansari and Kameshwar Yadav. The vehicle used in the crime was later identified and traced to Jharkhand. Authorities had received information that the remaining suspects had escaped in that direction. As of now, all individuals involved in the incident have been arrested,” the police said.

Mr. Khurania said, “Immediately after the robbery, police from 11 districts sprang into action. In addition to Kalahandi, police from Balangir, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Rourkela, Gumla, Ranchi Rural, Lohardaga, West Singhbhum, and Simdega were involved in the operation.”

Notably, six cases are pending against the accused, Samim, across various police stations in Ranchi, while Aleem Ansari faces two pending cases, and Tahir Ansari has three cases against him.

Published - February 01, 2025 09:08 pm IST