Rourkela: Brahmanitarang police here busted an illegal arms racket late Monday night as they arrested a trafficker and seized five firearms and 35 swords from his possession.
The accused, identified as Sunil Majhi, 41, alias Rebe of Badamaren Turitola area, was waiting to deliver the weapons to a customer when the police team raided the place and nabbed him.
Two country-made pistols, one country-made revolver, two country-made single-shot pistols, 35 swords and three live cartridges were seized from his possession.
A case (497/25) has been registered in this connection. This was stated here by Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani at a presser held at the district police headquarters Tuesday afternoon.
According to the SP, police received a tip-off around 9 pm December 1 about a transaction of illegal arms near Shankha bridge under the Brahmanitarang police station.
Acting on the tip-off, a special police team comprising inspector Uday Sahu, sub-inspector SK Swain and constables AK Jena and P Pradhan rushed to the spot.
On seeing the police, Majhi tried to flee but was chased down and nabbed. Officers recovered a country-made pistol and three live cartridges from his waistband.
During interrogation, Majhi allegedly admitted that he procured the weapons and ammunition from Jharkhand and supplied them to clients across Rourkela and Sundargarh.
Police later raided his rented house at Chutiatola in Kuanrmunda, where they seized another country-made pistol, two single-shot guns, a wooden-grip revolver and 35 swords.
The seizure was made in the presence of witnesses.
Police said Majhi has at least 28 pending cases against him for various offences.