Crime News / AIIMS Bhubaneswar Chain Snatching Case: Main Accused, Goldsmith Held

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: Police have arrested the alleged main snatcher and a goldsmith in connection with the robbery of a woman's mangalsutra near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar.

The main accused, identified as Manish Pattnaik, was arrested from Patrapada area in Bhubaneswar by cops from Khandagiri police station. Police also seized a stolen Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle allegedly used in the robbery.

Goldsmith Prakash Sahoo was arrested for allegedly purchasing the stolen gold. He is accused of buying the stolen jewellery from Rajsunakhala in Nayagada district.

The incident took place on August 18 when two men allegedly targeted a woman near AIIMS Bhubaneswar and snatched her gold mangalsutra at gunpoint.

Earlier, police had arrested alleged armed snatcher Rinku Khan in connection with the case.

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According to a source, the woman was out for a morning walk on August 18 near AIIMS when two men had approached her on a motorcycle and attempted to snatch a gold chain from her neck.

The woman had resisted and managed to pull one of the suspects, Rinku Khan, causing him to lose his balance and fall from the moving motorcycle, the source added. Alert locals then rushed to the spot and overpowered the suspect before handing him over to police. A 7.65 mm country-made pistol and an empty magazine were seized from him.

According to police, Manish has five serious criminal cases registered against him. His arrest is expected to help investigators establish the involvement of others in the robbery and the disposal of the stolen jewellery.