BHUBANESWAR: Commissionerate Police has busted an inter-state arms smuggling racket and arrested a supplier along with two local distributors.
A team of the Special Crime Unit conducted a raid at Hatiasuni square within Maitri Vihar police limits on Tuesday and nabbed Mahesh Kumar Saha of Jharkhand, and MD Sakabat and Firoz Ali Khan, both natives of Khurda district. Police said, Saha has a history of arms smuggling since the last 25 years. He was earlier arrested by Bhubaneswar police in 2004 and 2007.
Police said, Saha mostly procures guns from Bihar’s Munger and Gujarat at Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 for each weapon. He then sells the guns to local distributors like Sakabat and Firoz for Rs 45,000 each. The two further sell the weapons for as high as Rs 80,000 and even more. The cops have seized eight semi-automatic pistols, 34 rounds of live ammunition, 10 magazines and three cars from the accused.
Police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said they are taking stringent steps to dismantle illegal firearms trade in Bhubaneswar. “Investigation is continuing to identify the entire supply chain of the firearms racket, uncover its financial backers and ascertain if there is any broader network behind it,” he added.
Police also urged the citizens to remain vigilant and share information if they come across any similar crimes.