Three Arrested, Including Juvenile, in Armed Robbery on NH-16 in Berhampur
Manoj Kanta Desk, Odishabarta
Berhampur, August 29, 2026: B.N. Pur Police in Berhampur have arrested two 19-year-old youths and apprehended a 17-year-old juvenile in connection with an armed highway robbery reported near Lanjipalli Petrol Pump on NH-16 during the intervening night of August 14 and 15.
The arrested accused have been identified as Pritesh Kumar Majhi Samanta (19) and Sheik Zahid (19), while the third accused is a 17-year-old Child in Conflict with Law (CCL).
According to police, the victims, identified as Lilu Behera and Bulu Patra, were returning from Phulta when they were intercepted by the three accused near Lanjipalli Petrol Pump.
The accused allegedly threatened the victims with an iron weapon locally known as a “Chhapaada” and snatched their wallets containing around Rs. 11,000 in cash, besides taking away two mobile phones.
Police further said the accused allegedly attempted to take one of the victims towards Gopalpur Junction, intending to force him to withdraw additional money from an ATM. However, both victims managed to escape from the accused at different points and subsequently approached the police.
Following registration of the case, B.N. Pur Police launched an investigation. Police conducted scene verification, recorded statements of the victims, identified the vehicle allegedly used in the crime and tracked the stolen mobile phones.
Through technical analysis and field-level investigation, police were able to identify the suspects and closely monitor their movements.
Acting on the leads, a police team led by Inspector-in-Charge Subrat Behura, along with other police personnel, apprehended the three accused on August 28, 2026.
During the investigation, police seized two mobile phones—one Vivo and one Motorola—belonging to the victims, Rs. 6,000 in cash, the iron Chhapaada allegedly used in the robbery, and a Honda Activa scooter allegedly used in the commission of the offence.
The seized articles were taken into police custody under a proper seizure list and will be produced before the competent court..
The two adult accused were produced before the competent court, while the juvenile was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, in accordance with the law.
Police have registered a case under Section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway.
A senior police officer said that police had received intelligence inputs regarding the suspects and had been closely monitoring their movements before making the arrests.
