Sambalpur, Nov. 12: Jharsuguda police today busted a gang of robbers, who had been active in this district apart from Sundergarh and Deogarh.

The members of the gang were identified as Ganesh Gardia, Bijaya Behera, Deepak Trkey, Dashmant Topno, Arun Goswain, Sankar Ahir, Rajesh Behera, Ajaya Lugun, Charan Mahanandia, Chhotu Tirkey, David Kandulana and Manoj Sahu.

Ganesh Gardia, the leader of the gang, belongs to Rangiatikra of Jharsuguda district where as the other members hail from Biramitrapur of Sundergarh district.

Jharsuguda and Sundergarh police jointly busted the gang.

Acting on a tip off that the gang members were going in a Tata Magic, the police intercepted the vehicle at Kirei in Sundergarh district and arrested the gang, said sub-divisional police officer of Jharsuguda Phagua Singh.

The gang was involved in several robbery cases. The police have also seized two revolvers and theft articles from them. The gang was involved in robbery at Kankakuanr under Laekera police station and Chamradihi under Bagdihi police station in Jharsuguda.

They had also committed robbery in Deogarh and Sundergarh.

“Putting on masks, they gang members used to barge into the houses during the night and intimidate the family members with weapons. During robbery, they used to claim themselves as Maoists to divert the police attention,” said Singh.

Satyanand Sony of Biramitrapur, who was purchasing the stolen items from the gang, had been arrested, said police sources.