Cuttack Police Bust Chain-Snatching Racket, Recover 97 Grams of Stolen Gold

Cuttack: Choudwar Police have solved a gold chain-snatching case and uncovered a wider criminal network allegedly linked to multiple robbery incidents across Cuttack and the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District (UPD), officials said on Thursday.

The case pertains to Choudwar Police Station Case No. 629, registered on October 18, 2025, following a complaint by Sandhyarani Pati (50), who was robbed of her gold chain near the Birupa Barrage vegetable market. She was returning home with her husband when the snatchers struck and fled towards Jagatpur on a motorcycle.

As part of the investigation, police scrutinized CCTV footage from various entry and exit points near the crime scene. Investigators then matched the footage with records of known repeat offenders who had been released from Choudwar and Jharpada jails since January 2025. The analysis led to the identification of the suspects.

A special investigation team was subsequently formed under the supervision of ACP Zone-I Arun Kumar Swain. The team, comprising personnel from Choudwar Police Station and the Special Squad of Cuttack UPD, apprehended the prime accused along with two alleged receivers of stolen property.

The accused have been identified as Bishal Mallick (22) of Balarampur village under Nemalo police limits. The two receivers are Pravakar Samanta (42) of CDA Sector-7 and Kanhu alias Harekrushna Sahoo (31) of Bhanarag village under Mahanga police limits.

Police recovered 97 grams of gold chains of varying weights from their possession. A Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle, believed to have been used in the commission of the crimes, was also seized.

During sustained interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted involvement in a series of chain-snatching and robbery cases in Choudwar, Jagatpur, Sadar and other police station areas under Cuttack and Bhubaneswar UPDs. Officials said the accused have criminal antecedents in at least six similar cases registered in 2025.

All three accused were arrested and produced in court on Thursday. Police said further investigation is in progress to identify other members of the gang and determine their involvement in additional criminal cases.