Balasore, May 23: Balasore police nabbed a five-member inter-state criminal gang and produced them before court yesterday evening.

All of them belong to Haldia in Bengal and were involved in several crimes such as dacoity, highway robbery and breaking railway wagons both in Bengal and Odisha, said the police.

The arrested have been identified as Manoj Ray, 39, of Chiranjibipur, Sheikh Mustafa, 35, of Paramanandapur Chak, Bholanath Das, 30, of Bhabanipur, Bapi Singh, 29, and Kartik Mana, 20, both from Parghasipur village.

“They have confessed to the crimes and stolen articles were recovered from their possession. They were produced before the court on charges of dacoity,” said inspector in charge of Sadar police station Jaswant Samal.

“These criminals usually operate in Bengal and Odisha and have several cases against them in Bengal as well. They tie up and assault their victims before decamping with the stolen articles. Manoj Ray is the mastermind who runs the crime syndicate and disposes of the stolen goods,” said sub-divisional police officer Kailash Parida.

The Jaleswar police are likely to take them on remand in connection with a dacoity at Raibania on April 30. The goons allegedly tied up a house owner — a widow — beat her up, and robbed her.

On the night of May 16, they robbed Ratikanta Giri and his sister-in-law while they on their way to Balasore from Basta on a motorcycle. They robbed their gold ornaments, mobile phones and cash after beating them up and tying them up to a tree near Phuladi.

On the same night, the gang also targeted a highway dhaba. They robbed the owner, Bidyadhar Mishra, of his motorcycle and mobile phone after beating him up. The cops nabbed them after a manhunt.