In a significant crackdown on organized crime, the Special Crime Unit (SCU) of the Bhubaneswar Police successfully dismantled an illegal arms smuggling network operating across state lines. The operation, which unfolded on Friday, led to the arrest of two key individuals believed to be major suppliers of illegal weapons in the region.
Highway Interception Leads to Major Haul
Acting on precise intelligence, a team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anup Kanungo and ACP Manas Swain intercepted a sports utility vehicle (SUV) around 4 pm on Friday. The interception took place on the national highway at the Khandagiri overbridge. The vehicle, which was traveling from Angul to Berhampur, was allegedly on a mission to deliver a large consignment of weapons to criminal elements in the Berhampur area.
Upon conducting a thorough search of the vehicle, the police team made a startling discovery. They recovered a bag containing a substantial cache of illegal firearms. The seized arsenal included two 9 mm pistols, eight 7.65 mm pistols, and one automatic carbine. In addition to the weapons, the police also confiscated twelve rounds of 9 mm ammunition, Rs 1,600 in cash, and three mobile phones.
Interstate Network Unraveled
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Sumant Nayak and Soubhagya Nayak, both residents of Dhenkanal. Preliminary investigations have revealed crucial details about the origins of this illicit trade. Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh stated that the investigation points towards the firearms being sourced from the notorious illegal arms manufacturing hubs of Munger in Bihar and Jharkhand. This connection confirms the existence of a well-organized interstate network funneling weapons into Odisha.
"The operation was executed with precision. We are catching hold of arms suppliers before crimes take place," Commissioner Singh emphasized, highlighting the proactive nature of the police action. This bust is seen as a critical preventive measure, aimed at stopping weapons from reaching criminals who could use them in violent offenses.
Ongoing Investigation and Wider Implications
This raid marks a substantial victory for the Odisha Police in their ongoing battle against the illegal arms trade. Police officials have claimed that this seizure is a significant step towards curbing the flow of illegal weapons in the state. The focus of the SCU has now shifted to the next phase of the investigation.
"The SCU is now focused on identifying the people seeking these arms to further unravel the network's operations," revealed two police officers involved in the case. Furthermore, financial investigations have been initiated to trace the money trail associated with these illegal transactions, which could lead to more arrests and expose the financial backbone of the racket.
This incident follows a similar seizure on November 15, when six firearms were confiscated, leading to the arrest of two natives of Bihar. The consecutive busts indicate a sustained and intensified effort by the Bhubaneswar police to target the supply chain of illegal arms, aiming to enhance overall security and law enforcement in Odisha.
