Bhubaneswar, Jan 27: A 'Banjara gang' has been actively targeting women in Bhubaneswar, particularly those carrying handbags alone, a source said Tuesday.

The gang allegedly created panic at the Khandagiri Mela, taking advantage of crowded areas to carry out thefts. Mobile phones, wallets and gold ornaments were reportedly stolen within moments, leaving victims shocked. Following a series of such incidents, the Commissionerate Police launched a special drive to curb the criminal activities.

In separate cases, Khandagiri police arrested 11 members of the gang and produced them before a court. Cash and mobile phones were seized from their possession.

The source said the accused exploited crowded locations to commit the crimes. In one earlier incident, a woman was allegedly robbed of gold ornaments worth Rs 9 lakh while travelling in an auto-rickshaw. In another case, the gang reportedly surrounded a woman near the Baramunda bus stand, opened her bag and fled with cash and a mobile phone.

Based on complaints and CCTV footage collected from the affected areas, police identified the suspects and carried out the arrests. The operation led to the detention of 11 accused persons, who were later forwarded to court in connection with multiple cases of theft and robbery.

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Commissionerate Police said the special drive was launched after repeated incidents caused concern among residents and visitors to the Khandagiri Mela. Further investigation is underway.