Balasore: Industrial police on Friday arrested five persons and busted a racket that used to target closed industries and loot their machineries and equipment.

The police have also recovered stolen goods from them.

The arrested persons are - Sammjit Khan, 19, Isaq Khan, 24, Mir Sansad, 26, Jitesh Das, 25, and Sheikh Saddiq, 35, - all natives of Remuna and Sahadevkhunta areas.

They used to target closed industrial units and sell their machines in the state and even outside. A night patrolling team of the police seized four motors and electrical wire bundles from them which they had stolen from a closed unit at Somnathpur.

Inspector in charge of Industrial police station Paresh Rout said: "The accused persons were apprehended after they were intercepted with their vehicles on the national highway following a chase. They are forwarded to court after being booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code."

In another case, Town police arrested two persons on Thursday for selling fake goods to people. They are Prabhu Power and Mithun Solanki - both natives of Nagapur. They were caught while trying to sell a fake gold chain to a shopkeeper at Cinema Square.

17-year old kidnapped and raped

Khantapara police arrested a 32-year-old man for kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl. The accused - Kanhu Character Jena - is a resident of Digibhanra in Soro police station area.