Bhubaneswar, April 30: Sambalpur police today busted an inter-district vehicle-lifting racket and seized 19 vehicles, including a truck, power tiller, bikes, cars and a pick-up van, from three persons arrested in this connection.

The trio were identified as Ranjit Prashad, 28, of Makhnapara in Ainthapali police limits in Sambalpur, Prashanta alias Pramod Nayak, 44, of Talarpasi village within Nihalprashad police limits in Dhenkanal district and Pradeep Kumar Sabar, 21, of Hal township in Sunabeda of Koraput district.

Involvement of the trio in vehicle lifting came to the knowledge of the police following arrest of criminal Babu Kong alias Sarfaraj Khan of Sonapali in Dhanupali police limits and Sonu Agrwal of Old Market within Hirakud police station jurisdiction in the district.

"During interrogation, Babu revealed that the trio were also the gang members. Subsequently, the police arrested them, and during investigation, they confessed to the crime of lifting 19 vehicles," said Sambalpur police superintendent Akhilesvar Singh.

The gang was involved in lifting of trucks from various parts of state such as Sambalpur, Rairakhol, Jarpaada, Jharsuguda, Hirakud, Karanjia and so on.

Ranjit and Pradeep were involved in stealing the vehicle with Babu and Prashanta helping in changing the engine and chasis number of the stolen vehicles, said the police.

"At least two more persons are involved in the gang. We have identified them. More stolen vehicles could be seized after the two persons are arrested," said a police official.