Post News Network
Sambalpur, Oct 4: Illegal gun-running trade is flourishing in many parts of this district, but the police administration has failed to curb it.
With the crime rate increasing in direct proportion to the gun-running business, an uneasy atmosphere continues to prevail in areas like Ainthapali, Rengali, Mahulpali, Dhanupali, Jamankira, Dhama, Redhakhol, Burla, Kisinda, Kuchinda and Sambalpur Sadar.
The prevalence of gun-running trade is quite evident from the fact that over the last 32 months, the police have seized 60 pistols and guns during raids and arrests in the district. In this connection, 59 cases have been registered while 164 accused have been arrested.
In 2014, the police had arrested 132 persons in gun-running related cases while 45 cases were registered. Till August this year, the police have arrested over 32 persons and registered 15 cases.
Notwithstanding raids and arrests, the illegal trade goes on unabated. Besides, gun-manufacturing units are also running in different parts of the district. According to police, guns are supplied to criminals in the district from Munger in Bihar.
It is alleged gun-runners have good connections with some influential politicians due to which the racket has not been stamped out completely. Such a nexus is said to be tacitly encouraging such the illegal trade in Sambalpur.
A series of loots by armed miscreants has spread panic among the residents. May 23, five gun-toting miscreants looted over `2.18 lakh from a branch of the Punjab National Bank at Lapanga. Though over four months have passed, the police have not yet made any arrests in this case.
Miscreants had looted a trader at gunpoint in Bamara May 9. They had also hurled bombs at the trader before fleeing the spot.
Similarly, May 14, a criminal barged into the house of cine star Shantiswarup Mishra and exploded bombs on the premises. Mishra and his friend Nityaranjan Patnaik were seriously injured in the incident. Even four months after this incident, none has been arrested. June 24, Biswajit Biswas, an assistant security inspector of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd was shot dead by a gunman while the former was on duty. Police had seized a gun and four bullets but no arrests were made.
Earlier in January, three pistols were seized at Kuchinda, Chyarmal and Ainthapali areas. Government Railway Police GRP arrested two train looters February 2 and seized a country-made gun.
