Amda Raid Uncovers Theft Network Behind String of Local Burglaries
Key Points:
- Police recover gold and silver jewelry worth about Rs 5 lakh in Amda raid
- Four family members arrested including habitual offender Lalan Modi
- Accused allegedly targeted closed and deserted houses across the region
SERAIKELA – Police in the Kharsawan police station area have recovered stolen jewelry worth nearly Rs 5 lakh and arrested four people following a raid at a house in Amda’s Gulgulia Basti.
Circle Inspector Rajesh Tuddu announced the recoveries at a press conference on Thursday, describing how a tip-off led officers to the hideout. According to him, police received information on August 19 around 1:30 p.m. that jewelry stolen in two cases registered at Kharsawan police station, numbers 36/26 and 37/26, was concealed inside the house of Lalan Singh Modi, also known as Tikka Singh Modi.
A police team led by Amda outpost in-charge Ramrekha Paswan verified the tip before raiding the residence. Several occupants attempted to flee as officers arrived, but Lalan Modi was chased down and caught on the spot.
However, the search of the house that followed turned up a plastic pouch hidden inside a cloth bag beneath an almirah, containing a large haul of gold and silver ornaments. The accused could not produce any valid documents for the items recovered.
Officers listed the seized property as including silver anklets, toe rings, rings, bracelets, waist chains, neck chains, lockets, coins, biscuits and other ornaments, besides gold lockets, earrings, nose pins and amulets. A switched-off mobile phone of an MI brand and a Titan wristwatch were also recovered.
Meanwhile, questioning of the accused revealed what police describe as a family-run theft operation. Lalan Modi reportedly told investigators that burglarizing closed and unoccupied homes was his family’s principal occupation.
“The team acted swiftly on the information we received and managed to trace both the stolen property and those responsible,” Tuddu said.
Besides the Amda case, police said the recovered goods are linked to a series of thefts reported across Seraikela, Kharsawan and Amda police station limits. A case was registered at Kharsawan police station under case number 39/26, dated August 19, 2026, invoking sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In addition to Lalan Modi, aged 44, police arrested Anu Modi, 19, Rupa Modi, 22, and Kunti Modi, 21, in connection with the case. Investigators said Lalan Modi has a prior criminal record, with cases of theft and possession of stolen property registered against him at Mango police station and Chakradharpur police station.
On the other hand, police said the operation forms part of a broader crackdown, noting similar recoveries such as the recent jewelry theft case reported from Ambedkar Nagar and the arrest of a long-absconding warrantee in Seraikela. Officers involved in Thursday’s raid included Ramrekha Paswan, Yogesh Rajak, Ropana Ram Kanshi and constable Rajendra Nath Kisku.
Moreover, the case echoes other recent arrests in the region, including that of a fugitive wanted for years in a separate robbery case, as well as a theft at a liquor shop reported elsewhere in the district this month. Police said they are now working to identify the rightful owners of the recovered ornaments and to determine the accused’s links to other unresolved theft cases in the area.
