Villagers use drone & ring of fire to capture thief in Bhadrak
Bhubaneswar: In an ingenious move, a group of villagers in Bhadrak district’s Basudevpur block deployed a drone for aerial surveillance while setting ablaze the perimeter of a pond to catch a thief who had taken refuge in the water body early on Wednesday. Their technique proved successful as they managed to capture the thief along with his associate, foiling their bid to steal midday meal rice from the village school.
The incident unfolded at Charibatia village under Naikandihi police station limits around 2 am on Wednesday when locals spotted four suspicious persons attempting to steal rice stored at the local school. As the villagers raised an alarm and gave chase, one of the thieves jumped into a nearby pond while his accomplices tried to flee. Later, the villagers caught another thief. Two others managed to escape.
“We immediately surrounded the pond and used dry grass to create a ring of fire around its perimeter. To maintain vigilance, we deployed a drone for aerial monitoring of the pond, ensuring the thief could not escape,” Manas Mohanty, a villager, said.
After nearly two hours of surveillance, the thief came out of the water, suffering from exhaustion and exposure. The villagers caught him. Both suspects were handed over to the police.
Upon questioning, the duo, whose identities have not been disclosed yet, confessed to their involvement in several thefts across the region. They said they targeted school premises to steal provisions meant for the midday meal scheme.
“We are questioning the suspects to get details of their gang members, who are on the run. Efforts will be made to recover stolen items from them,” an officer of Naikandihi police station said.
Police praised the locals for their alertness and use of drone technology in preventing crime. “We are thankful to the local villagers for their vigilance in protecting school resources. Community participation is essential in preventing crimes. We will also intensify patrolling. We have urged schools and other establishments in the district to install CCTV cameras,” the police officer said.
The incident unfolded at Charibatia village under Naikandihi police station limits around 2 am on Wednesday when locals spotted four suspicious persons attempting to steal rice stored at the local school. As the villagers raised an alarm and gave chase, one of the thieves jumped into a nearby pond while his accomplices tried to flee. Later, the villagers caught another thief. Two others managed to escape.
“We immediately surrounded the pond and used dry grass to create a ring of fire around its perimeter. To maintain vigilance, we deployed a drone for aerial monitoring of the pond, ensuring the thief could not escape,” Manas Mohanty, a villager, said.
After nearly two hours of surveillance, the thief came out of the water, suffering from exhaustion and exposure. The villagers caught him. Both suspects were handed over to the police.
Upon questioning, the duo, whose identities have not been disclosed yet, confessed to their involvement in several thefts across the region. They said they targeted school premises to steal provisions meant for the midday meal scheme.
“We are questioning the suspects to get details of their gang members, who are on the run. Efforts will be made to recover stolen items from them,” an officer of Naikandihi police station said.
Police praised the locals for their alertness and use of drone technology in preventing crime. “We are thankful to the local villagers for their vigilance in protecting school resources. Community participation is essential in preventing crimes. We will also intensify patrolling. We have urged schools and other establishments in the district to install CCTV cameras,” the police officer said.
