Keonjhar, July 10: Joda police today arrested five members of a dacoit gang active in the mineral-rich Joda, Barbil, Rugudi and Bolani areas in Keonjhar district for the past couple of years.

The police displayed 110 grams of gold ornaments, a gold coin, two daggers, a revolver, live cartridges and two mobile phones, which they claimed to have seized from the arrested gang.

The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Chhotu, 20, of Jahira Hating, Sangram Nayak, 19, of Fabrication Colony, Kanhu Charan Munda, 20, of Bakal Hating, Sonu Nayak, 20, of Koli Hating and Mohammad Salooq Khan, 21, of Kamar Joda.

According to the police, the dacoits, who were wanted in a number of cases, were nabbed during raids at different hideouts in and around Joda town late last night.

“Those arrested were involved in a number of cases of robbery in the area. The arrested criminals were operating in Joda, Barbil, Bolani and Rugudi areas of the district,” said Jagannath Acharya, inspector in-charge of Joda police station.

“During interrogation, the gang confessed to their involvement in a dacoity that took place at Kamarjoda two years ago,” Acharya further said.

He added that their involvement in other cases in other police station limits of the district was also suspected.

“The gang has around seven members and the remaining two will also be nabbed soon,” said Acharya.

The police today produced the accused in the court of the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) at Barbil and they were remanded in jail after their bail applications were rejected.

The Joda and Barbil police claimed to have arrested 24 dacoits in four separate incidents in last two months.

“With the arrest of about two dozens of dacoits in last two months, we hope criminal activities will come down in the mineral-rich areas,” said the inspector.