Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on interstate arms trafficking, the Special Crime Unit (SCU) of Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Commissionerate Police arrested two key operatives and seized 11 illegal firearms being transported from Angul to Berhampur, officials said Saturday. The accused have been identified as Sumanta Naik (30) of Angul and Soubhagya Naik (30) of Dhenkanal.
According to police sources, December 5, the SCU received intelligence that the duo was supplying illegal arms across Odisha. Led by DCP SCU Anup Kanungo and assisted by ACP Manas Swain, SI Gagan Biswal, ASI Subrat Kumar Padhi and Hav. Prakash Kumar Swain, the team conducted a raid and intercepted a Bolero vehicle on the National Highway near Khandagiri overbridge.
A search of the vehicle recovered 11 firearms, including two 9mm pistols, eight 7.65mm pistols, one automatic carbine, along with 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition, cash and mobile phones. Preliminary investigation indicated that the weapons were sourced from Jharkhand and Munger in Bihar, both known hubs of illegal arms manufacturing.
“We have intensified efforts to dismantle drug and arms smuggling networks across the state and district. We are working to trace all links in the illegal weapons racket,” said Commissioner of Police S Dev Datta Singh.
Police are also investigating the intended recipients in Berhampur and probing the wider interstate arms supply network, including financial trails. The duo reportedly has cases registered at multiple police stations in the state.
