Keonjhar Police Bust Inter-State Gang Behind Gold Chain Snatchings; 20 Arrested

Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, Keonjhar police have arrested 20 individuals suspected of being involved in a series of gold chain snatching incidents that rocked Keonjhar town on July 16, 2025. The arrests were made following an intensive investigation led by a special police team formed under the direction of the Keonjhar Superintendent of Police (SP).

According to the SP’s official update shared on social media platform X, the investigation revealed that the crimes were committed by a well-organised inter-state gang. The gang’s core members reportedly hail from Dasamania, Mundamal, and Purbakote areas of Jajpur district in Odisha.

Further probes uncovered the gang’s vast criminal network, with links spread across Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. Police sources confirmed that the group has been involved in over 1,000 snatching cases across India.

During the crackdown, the police recovered eight gold chains, seized ₹11,000 in cash, and confiscated 14 motorcycles used during the snatching operations. Authorities are continuing efforts to track down other absconding members of the gang.

The successful operation has been hailed as a significant blow to organised street crime in the region, and further investigations are underway.