Police recover Rs4.9L robbed by Kodha gang in Ara

Ara: Bhojpur police on Wednesday recovered the entire Rs 4.9 lakh looted by members of the infamous Kodha gang on May 13 in Ara. The stolen amount was found in Katihar district and returned to its rightful owner.Providing details at a press conference, ASP and sadar SDPO Parichay Kumar said, "On May 13, one Sumant Kumar Singh lodged a complaint at Ara Nawada police station, alleging that while returning in an autorickshaw after withdrawing Rs 4.9 lakh from an SBI branch in Katira locality, two bike-borne miscreants snatched the plastic bag containing the cash from him on Katira overbridge and fled."Suspecting the involvement of the Kodha gang, Bhojpur police sought help from the Bihar STF's Kodha cell. "Based on inputs from the STF, a team led by SHO of Ara Nawada police station, Bipin Bihari, along with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), conducted a raid at Naya Tola Jurabganj village under Kodha police station in Katihar district. The total looted amount of Rs 4.9 lakh was recovered from the house of the main accused, Sumit Kumar Yadav, who had fled the village," said Kumar.Raids are on to arrest Yadav and his two accomplices.Miscreants from the Kodha gang have been linked to three to four similar robbery incidents in Ara in recent times. Speaking on their methods, Kumar said, "As per our investigation, the Kodha gang monitors bank customers and targets those carrying large sums in plastic or cloth bags, which they view as easy targets. However, Bhojpur police have successfully recovered most of the looted money or jewellery in recent cases of such snatching attempts.We remain in constant coordination with the Bihar STF to dismantle the gang and arrest all its members."