Bhubaneswar, March 7: Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police today arrested two college students for allegedly snatching bags and valuables from women walking down streets.

The cops also seized various items, costly mobile phones, watches and gold ornaments worth around Rs 10 lakh and cash worth Rs 12,000, from them.

The Nayapalli police identified the accused as Ronak Pattnaik, 20, a BCom student of a local college, and Pratyush Nayak, 21, a third-year engineering student of a private college in the city.

Pattnaik hails from Athgarh in Cuttack district while Nayak is from Phulbani district. Both the accused were staying in a private hostel in the city.

Inspector in charge of Nayapalli police station Anup Kanungo said they arrested the duo from near Ekamra Kanan gate.

The duo were sent to jail after a local court rejected their bail pleas this afternoon.

Kanungo said they recovered 40 handbags from the duo.

Besides 10 grams of gold worth more than Rs 30,000, 12 costly mobile phones, two wristwatches worth around Rs 5 lakh and many other valuables were seized from them.

The officials also seized their motorcycle and recovered cash worth Rs 12,000.

“They have been committing crimes in the city and its outskirts for the past eight months. There have been several cases against them in Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, Jatni and other police stations in the city. We are also verifying their involvement in other places in the state,” said Kanungo. The police suspect involvement of more people in their group.

The inspector said the duo, riding motorbikes, had been snatching handbags from women walking down streets. They used to snatch gold chains from unsuspecting victims.

“By the time the victims managed to shout for help, they were far away, speeding away from the spot in minutes,” said the officer.