Cops at the Krushna Chandra Medical Store in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 7: Footage of closed-circuit television camera installed at the Krushna Chandra Medical Store at Courtpeta here today helped cops nab three youths who were involved in robbing the shop’s owner two days ago.

The accused are Suman Kumar Sahu, 21, of Panigrahipentha Sahi, Aska Road 1st Gate, Balia Gouda, 22, of Kela Govindpur and a 15-year-old boy.

“We have so far been able to recover Rs 30,000 of the Rs 1. 07 lakh that was stolen. We have also seized one pistol and two motorbikes from them,” said Dipak Mishra, inspector in charge of B.N. Pur police station. Two others — Suraj Padhi and Surya Nayak, both of whom hail from Laxmi Nrusingha Sahi — are absconding,” he said.

“Suraj, Suman, Surya and one juvenile had consumed liquor at a roadside eatery late at night on August 4. It was while drinking there that they had planned to commit the robbery. After the drinking session, they went to the house of one of the accused persons at Gouda Sahi in Lanjipalli and slept there till morning,” said the police officer.

The next morning, they made rounds of the city on three motorcycles looking for an easy target. They then found the owner of the medicine shop, A. Krishnamurty, sitting alone in his shop, which is located at a deserted place. They targeted his shop.

Suraj threatened Krishnamurty with a pistol, while Surya and the teenager looted the shop. One person, however, remained outside to keep an eye on the movement of people.

“After looting the shop, they went to Jagannathpur junction and later to Lanjipalli to share the booty,” said the police officer.