Police bust illegal firearms trading gang in Odisha’s Sambalpur; six arrested

Sambalpur: In a major crackdown, a joint team of personnel from four police stations today busted an illegal firearms trading gang in Sambalpur. Police have arrested six persons in this connection.

The six arrested were identified as Mohammed Samsher alias Pagala (39), Mohammed Mousim (41), Munu Pandey (23), Mohit Paswan (20), Santosh Moharana (38) and Mohammed Ahmed (42).

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A senior official said that eight firearms, 22 rounds of live bullets, a pickup van, two two-wheelers, six mobile phones and cash of Rs 11,20,850 were recovered and seized from their possession.

The hardcore criminals were arrested following raids carried out at different locations in the city.

“We suspect that the gang was involved in the smuggling of firearms after procuring them from Bihar and other parts of the country. The criminals were even using the firearms to create fear among people and extort money,” Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo said.

A detailed probe is underway to find out the involvement of other person(s), if any, as well as the source from where the illegal firearms were being procured, the SP informed.