8 held with huge quantity of gutkha worth Rs 15 lakh in Odisha’s Malkangiri

Malkangiri: Malkangiri police arrested total 8 persons on charges of illegal transportation of huge quantity of gutkha here in the district on Saturday.

The police seized 124 bags of gutkha of different brands worth around Rs 15 lakh and an auto rickshaw from possession of the accused persons.

The accused persons have been identified as Bishnu Behera (32), T. Satyanarayan Subudhi (40), P. Bala (32), Debendra Kumar Tripathy (31), Premanand Pradhan (30), Sanatan Mahakud(42), K Trimal Prusti (32) and Sushant Pradhan (30).

According to reports, a team of Malkangiri Police conducted raid after receiving information about illegal transportation of huge quantity of gutkha from Malkangiri Bus Stand to Kalimela.

During raid, the police apprehended two persons — Bishnu Behera, auto driver, and T. Satyanarayn Subudhi, the owner of gutkha bags.

As the duo failed to produce bills, licence and documents supporting for possession and transportation of gutkha, the police seized the gutkha packets and auto rickshaw.

Based on information, similar raids were conducted in five more places leading to seizure of huge quantity of illegal gutkha and arrest of six more accused persons.

“The gutkha bags were supplied from Berhampur and Jeypore to Malkangiri district. In total, seized gutkha packets will be worth 15 lakh,” said the Malkangiri police in a release today.

Six cases have been registered under sections 420/272/273/34 IPC r/w Sec 20 of COTPA Act 2003 and the probe is underway.