3 of inter-State criminal gang nabbed after encounter during ATM loot in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Three notorious criminals of an inter-state gang involved in bank ATM loots in Odisha and other parts of the country were nabbed by the police in Bhubaneswar early on Sunday.

Police said that one of the gang members, identified as Deepak Kumar of Bihar, was caught first following an encounter near Badagada in Bhubaneswar. Subsequently, his associates Abhisekh Kumar and Dipak Pandey, who hail from Bihar and Jharkhand respectively, were also arrested.

Deepak Kumar was injured in the encounter with police when he was trying to loot an ATM near Badagada area. The encounter took place when Deepak opened fire after seeing a police team. As the police retaliated, Deepak sustained a bullet injury to his leg in the exchange of fire that ensued. He was immediately taken to the Capital Hospital here for treatment.

Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, S Deva Dutta Singh said the criminals used to commit crime in various parts of the country, including Odisha.

Deepak has multiple cases registered against him in various police stations. The modus operandi of the criminals involved using adhesive inside ATM cash dispensers. When customers attempted to withdraw money, the notes would get stuck due to the adhesive. Assuming a malfunction, the customers would leave, allowing Deepak and his gang to retrieve the stuck cash later.

The gang was also on the most-wanted list of Ranchi Police. Further investigation is underway.