CUTTACK: Commissionerate police busted a gang of dacoit-cum-arms dealer here on Thursday and arrested five of its members. Police also seized two brand new semi-automatic pistols along with ammunition from them.
Sources said the gang had assembled at an isolated spot near Nehrupalli and was planning for a dacoity at Mahanadi Vihar when it was apprehended by the police patrol.
The arrested have been identified as Manish Narang of Madhupatna (gang leader), Pratap Rout of Badachana in Jajpur district, Suraj Kumar Bhoi of Jagatsinghpur, Soumya Ranjan Rout of Badambadi and Muktar Saha of Biridi in Jagatsinghpur district.
Two semi-automatic pistols, four live bullets, a toy gun, a sword and a hatchet were seized from them. During interrogation, their arms dealing activities came to the fore. Manish was the main player in the arms dealing ring with Muktar and Pratap as his associates.