Bhubaneswar, Dec 6 (Reporterspen): In a major breakthrough against organised crime, the Special Crime Unit (SCU) of the Commissionerate Police arrested two notorious arms smugglers and seized a substantial cache of illegal weapons in Bhubaneswar. The operation, carried out on December 5, followed specific intelligence inputs about the movement of armed criminals transporting weapons from Angul to Berhampur.
A team led by DCP Anup Kanungo intercepted a Bolero vehicle at the Khandagiri Overbridge and conducted a thorough search. During the inspection, police recovered 10 pistols, an automatic carbine, and several rounds of ammunition hidden inside a bag. The arrested accused have been identified as 30-year-old Sumanta Naik from Angul and 30-year-old Soubhagya Naik from Dhenkanal.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the duo procured the arms from Jharkhand and Munger in Bihar, both known hubs for illegal arms manufacturing. Along with the weapons, police also seized 12 rounds of 9MM ammunition, Rs 1,600 in cash, and three mobile phones. Both men have a criminal history, with multiple cases related to the Arms Act, robbery, and dacoity.
Police Commissioner S. Devdutta Singh described the accused as key members of a larger arms supply chain. He expressed hope that the arrests would significantly disrupt their network. Further investigation is underway to trace the recipients of the weapons and uncover the full extent of the interstate smuggling racket.
