Bhubaneswar: Acting on a tip off regarding illegal manufacturing/possession/sale of firearms by some criminals, STF personnel conducted raid on the unit situated near Bhapur village in Dhenkanal district. The firearms manufacturing unit was busted and two persons have been arrested in this regard. Those arrested have been identified as Kalandi Nayak of Cuttack district and Shyam Sundar Sitha of Dhenkanal district. The raids were carried out Thursday night.
During the search operation a large number of country-made firearms and one revolver along with other incriminating materials were recovered from the possession of those arrested.
In this connection STF has registered a case (No.33 dated 23.09.2021 U/s. 25/27) under the Arms Act. The two persons are being interrogated to find out the whereabouts of others who are involved in the illegal manufacturing and sale of firearms.
During preliminary investigation, it has been ascertained that seized country-made firearms were manufactured by criminals of Dhenkanal district. They were then selling those to others miscreants in other districts. Police sources informed that that identity of the buyers of these illegal firearms has been established and they will soon be apprehended.
Since 2020 drive against illegal arms & ammunitions have been conducted, the STF has alone seized 56 firearms and 91 rounds of live ammunitions.