Bihar Duo Arrested in Puri for Gold Chain Snatching Spree
In a significant breakthrough, Puri police have arrested two men from Bihar for allegedly carrying out a series of gold chain snatching incidents targeting pedestrians in the holy city. The arrests were made on Wednesday following a detailed investigation into crimes reported earlier this month.
Details of the Criminal Operation
Addressing a press conference, Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh revealed that the accused have been identified as Monu Singh (27) from Patna district and Deepak Kumar Singh (28) from Sitamarhi district in Bihar. According to police records, the duo arrived in Odisha from New Delhi on March 9, strategically transporting their motorcycle to Bhubaneswar through the railway parcel service to avoid detection.
"The accused demonstrated considerable planning in their criminal activities," stated SP Prateek Singh. "After reaching Bhubaneswar, they replaced the motorcycle's original Delhi registration plates with fake Odisha number plates to blend in with local traffic and evade suspicion."
Chain of Criminal Incidents
The criminal spree began on March 10 when the duo allegedly targeted their first victim near Matiapada chowk, close to Giri Goswami Math. According to police reports, an elderly resident of Puri filed a complaint stating that around 10:20 AM on Tuesday, two youths on a motorcycle approached her while she was returning home and snatched her gold chain weighing approximately 23 grams.
Later the same day, the accused allegedly struck again near Khadipada chowk under Sadar police station limits. This time, their target was a man identified as Ashok Pattanaik, from whom they reportedly snatched another gold chain in a similar modus operandi.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Acting on intelligence and eyewitness accounts, Puri police launched a coordinated operation to track down the perpetrators. Officers successfully chased down the duo as they attempted to flee the area, apprehending them before they could escape the city limits.
During the arrest, police seized substantial evidence including:
- A motorcycle equipped with fake registration plates
- Two stolen gold chains recovered from the accused
- An airbag and various clothing items
- Two original Delhi registration number plates
- Two motorcycle keys
Criminal Background and Ongoing Investigation
Superintendent Prateek Singh indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the accused may be involved in similar crimes across multiple states. "We are currently verifying their criminal antecedents and possible connections to other chain snatching cases reported in different regions," the SP confirmed during the press briefing.
The meticulous planning exhibited by the accused—including their interstate travel, strategic transportation of the motorcycle, and use of fake registration plates—suggests they may be part of a larger criminal network specializing in such thefts. Police are now examining their mobile phone records, financial transactions, and travel history to establish potential links to other unsolved cases.
Local residents have expressed relief at the arrests, with many praising the prompt police action. The Puri police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately, particularly involving motorcycles with mismatched or obscured number plates.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the full extent of the duo's criminal activities and whether additional accomplices were involved in planning or executing the thefts. Both accused have been remanded to police custody for further questioning and legal proceedings.
