2 youths held for brandishing gun in marriage procession

Cuttack: A youth landed behind the bars today for allegedly dancing in a Baraat (marriage procession) by brandishing gun yesterday night near Old LIC Colony under Badambadi police limits in Cuttack.

Owner of the firearm was also arrested in this connection. The two accused identified as Sandeep Patra and Prashant Giri were forwarded to a court here earlier in the day, after being interrogated.

According to a senior police official, the marriage procession was on the way to Old LIC Colony from elsewhere in the city, when one of the accused Sandeep was carrying the gun in his hand. On being tipped-off about it, local police reached the spot and picked up the youth yesterday for quizzing.

“Sandeep was seen dancing with the pistol by the police team. Later, during a preliminary probe, it was ascertained that the firearm belongs to Prashant (a licensee),” Cuttack ACP Amarendra Panda said.

“We are probing to find out under what condition Prashant was accorded the license, the ACP added.

Police have seized the gun along with four live bullets from the possession of the two accused. A case (No-69/2023) has been registered at Badambadi police station and a detailed probe is underway.