Cuttack, July 15: Police have arrested five persons, including two women and a minor boy, in connection with a snatching case at Malgodown.

"The culprits were nabbed after the minor boy was identified with the help of CCTV footage," assistant commissioner of police Trinath Mishra said.

The investigation began after Jugal Kishore Badiyani lodged a complaint with Magodown police that he had been robbed of Rs 5.15 lakh on the night of July 7.

Badiyani alleged that an unknown person, wearing trousers and shirt, had snatched his bag containing the cash while he was returning after collecting the money from a Malgodown trader around 8.15pm.

Malgodown is the largest wholesale mandi for essential commodities in the state, spread over 25 acres and flanked by Taladanda canal on one side.

The police, however, could make little headway till it stumbled upon footage from a CCTV camera installed by traders at Amul Lane in the area.

The cops spotted the minor, snatching the bag from Badiyani and vanishing into a dark alley nearby.

They then tracked him down to the nearby Behera Sahi yesterday and arrested him.

"He confessed about his role in the snatching and named the mastermind and others involved," Mishra said.

The four others, who were also arrested yesterday, were identified as Jada alias Jugal Behera, 26, Parsu alias Parsuram Behera, Dulan Behera, 45, and Manju Behera, 25. All were Behera Sahi residents.

The police said Jada, the prime accused, had used the minor to snatch the bag containing the money.

They devised a plan to reduced the chances of getting caught, and as part of that, the minor waded through the canal to cross over to the other side, where two accomplices, named Bulu Behera and Hemanta Behera, were waiting.

Later, Jada divided the money among the gang members, the police said.

"During the arrests, we seized Rs 55,000 and a motorcycle from their possession," Malgodown police station inspector-in-charge Debi Prasad Patro said.

"Efforts are on to recover the rest of the amount and nab the two other accused," he said. The police said two of the arrested - Jada and Parsu - have allegedly been involved in several cases of extortion, robbery and house-breaking registered at Malgodown, Manglabag and Railway police stations.