Puri: Town police Sunday claimed to have arrested a liquor trader and three of his private bodyguards in connection with celebratory blank firing in the Holy City August 4.
Police have seized two guns and five mobile phones from the arrested liquor trader, Narayan Sahu alias Narua, and his bodyguards—Bablu Kumar, Varun Kumar and Devendra Kumar of Uttar Pradesh.
Police have registered a case under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and Odisha Fire and Loudspeaker Act, said Puri district Superintendent of Police Umashankar Dash.
“Earlier, Town police and Sea Beach police had booked Sahu for his involvement in 29 cases. The four accused were sent to jail after rejection of their bail pleas by a local court. We’ll take them on remand for interrogation,” Dash said.
According to police, Sahu and his bodyguards, who were in an inebriated condition, had resorted to blank firing at a cultural event organised on a ground under Town police limits August 4. A video of the incident had gone viral on social media. Besides, reports regarding the incident were published in a section of media.
Taking serious note of the issue, Puri SP formed two special squads to arrest Sahu and his bodyguards who had absconded after the incident.
Sahu got admitted to a private hospital here to avoid arrest while his bodyguards were planning to leave Odisha, police said. “Sahu’s bodyguards were captured by police a few days ago. Our officials got clues on Sahu after interrogating his bodyguards. Subsequently, police had prepared a blueprint to arrest Sahu,” said a police official.
However, the police were mum about the details of the guns seized from Sahu and his bodyguards.
According to sources, Sahu had criminal antecedents for the last 30 years. There was a running feud between his group and another gang in Bali Sahi area of the city.
“Sahu recruited a few youths from Uttar Pradesh as his bodyguards. These bodyguards used to carry guns with them. Police were reluctant to take action against Sahu though they were aware of his illegal activities long ago,” said a source.
It is learnt that Sahu was an active member of Congress party. However, he had sifted shifted his allegiance towards ruling Biju Janata Dal a few days ago.