Railways employee arrested for gunrunning in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, Aug 16:

Police today arrested an employee of the Railways on charges of gunrunning from Bondhamunda area of Odisha’s Steel City-Rourkela.

The accused has been identified as Santosh Singh alias Santu Singh, police said.

Police have seized three pistols, 14 live bullets, four knives and an equal number of swords, nine ATM cards and Rs 2 lakh in cash from his possession, police added.

Police said Singh allegedly used to smuggle guns from Jharkhand and sold it to buyers in Rourkela and that apart, suspects him to be involved in the tender fixing of Railway contracts.

“We have seized ATM cards, chequebooks, two vehicles, etc from his possession. He has confessed to having been involved in gunrunning. One of his brothers works as a contractor with the Railways while another assists him. We are further investigating the matter for his involvement in extortion and other illegal activities connected with Railway contracts,” said Rourkela DSP, Ramesh Panigrahi.

Police have launched a manhunt to nab two of his accomplices.