Cuttack, March 13: Malgodown police today claimed to have made a breakthrough in Jobra firing incident by arresting six persons including Smurtiranjan Beura (20), who had said he was injured in the firing by unidentified criminals near Dassahi area.
The accused persons have been identified as — Rajesh Naik (24) alias Raja of Manglabag, Tapas Kumar Sinha (25) and Prafulla Chandra Das (22) of Jobra, Bipin Sahoo (21) and Narendra Choudhry (23) of Jagatsinghpur.
A 9mm mauser and two live bullets have also been recovered from their possession.
According to police, Beura was injured when he and five of his aides were planning to commit a robbery at Mahanadi Vihar.
All of them had gathered at Beura’s house at Jobra Dassahi area around midnight on March 6.
“A bullet from a mauser went off accidentally and pierced Beura’s right thigh when they were planning a robbery at Mahanadi Vihar,” said inspector-in-charge, S.K. Mallick.
The gang had planned to raid construction company. However, the entire plan was foiled as Beura was injured in the firing, he added.
Beura had tried to misguide the police and media about the entire firing incident and claimed that two helmet-borne goons attacked him when he was standing near his house.
“Two goons came and fired one round of bullet when I was standing near my house,” said Beura, when he was brought to SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Beura had also said that he was working as a contractor and was staying alone in his house after the death of his parents. The entire plot was revealed when Beura narrated the actual incident to the cops during investigation.
According to police, many cases of extortion, loot, bombing and motorcycle thefts have been registered against Rajesh Naik and Tapas Sinha.
Moreover, all the five accused have been arrested following raids in different parts of the city.
They have been booked under various sections of the Arms Act and was produced in court today.
However, Beura will be produced in the court after he was discharged from the hospital, police said.
