Phulbani: A special squad of Kandhamal district police busted an inter-district gang of bike-lifters and recovered seven stolen bikes from their possession on Monday.

"The raids are continuing and we hope to recover more bikes," said inspector of Gochapada police station Mrutyunjay Pradhan.

Two members of the bike-lifters' gang - Hasta Kanhar and Situ Mallick - were arrested from Khajuripada.

The goons used to lift the bikes from crowded weekly and bi-weekly rural markets across the district. They mainly used to target tribal people who used to turn up at the markets to sell their produce.

After stealing the bikes, the gang members used to sell the stolen vehicles in Ganjam district at a low price through a network of middlemen.

The accused persons are being questioned.

"We suspect the involvement of several others in the racket. A search is on to nab all of them. The receivers of the stolen bikes would also be booked for abetting to the crime," said the officer.

More than 75 cases of motor-bike lifting were reported from various police stations in Kandhamal district over the past two months.

"The recovered bikes will be handed to the legitimate owners on production of valid documents to corroborate ownership," said Pradhan.