Illegal Arms Dealer Arrested in Bhubaneswar; Pistols and Ammunition Seized

Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, the Special Crime Unit of the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police on Thursday arrested an alleged arms dealer from the Sundarpada area of the city.

The accused has been identified as Ameresh Rout alias Kanha. Police apprehended him after a brief chase and seized two semi-automatic pistols, 10 rounds of live ammunition, and two cartridges from his possession.

According to preliminary investigation, the accused was also allegedly involved in forcible and illegal land grabbing activities. During the operation, one firearm was recovered from him, while another was found in the dicky of his motorcycle.

Police sources said efforts are underway to trace the origin of the seized weapons, with suspicion pointing towards an inter-state arms trafficking syndicate. Further investigation is in progress.

Officials stated that the arrest is part of an ongoing drive to curb illegal arms trade in the state.

In a similar operation earlier this year, police had arrested Manoj Kumar Mallick from Chandaka while he was allegedly delivering six firearms to a buyer in the city. The Commissionerate Police had seized the weapons and launched an investigation into the network.