The six chain snatchers nabbed by Markatnagar police. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 22: Markatnagar police today arrested six members of a gang involved in a series of chain snatching and bike lifting incidents in various parts of the city.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided Vishal Petrol Pump area near CDA Sector 1 and managed to nab six members around 7.30pm yesterday.

The accused have been identified as Manas Chand alias Muna, 19, of Sahebzada Bazaar, Bansidhar Nayak, 39, of Choudwar, Surendra Nayak, 43, of Kendrapara, Sanjay Saho, 21, of Sikhapur and Samir Singh of Banki in Cuttack district.

Five gold chains weighing 50 grams worth Rs 2 lakh, four motorcycles and three sharp weapons apart from two packets of red chilli powder have been recovered from their possession.

Police sources said that Manas Chand was earlier arrested for thieving while he was studying Plus Two at Christ College in 2010.

Being a minor, Chand was sent to a juvenile home. He was found involved in a series of criminal activities with another gang in chain snatching incidents.

Over 15 cases relating to loot, robbery and snatching have been registered against all the gang members at different police stations in Cuttack and Choudwar. The gang had also snatched a gold chain from the wife of a retired director general of police at CDA area last month.

“The gang used to target people by throwing chilli powder in their eyes and loot gold chains and motorcycles,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.