Special squad arrests hardcore criminal Manoj Behera; seizes semi-automatic pistol, live bullets

Bhubaneswar: Commissionerate Police-Bhubaneswar today arrested hardcore criminal Manoj Behera, who is a key accused in Laxmisagar petrol pump firing incident that occurred on March 28, 2022.

Acting on a tip-off that Manoj was present in Jagannath Nagar locality of the State Capital, a police team conducted a raid leading to the arrest, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh informed at a presser here.

According to the DCP, Manoj is a native of Gandhi Nagar under Burla civic limits in Sambalpur district. Presently, he has been residing at Rickshaw Colony under Kharvel Nagar police limits. There are at least 15 murder, snatching, burglary, black marketing tickets and gun attack cases pending against him at different police stations. However, he was very active in Bhubaneswar Urban Police District (UPD).

The team comprising personnel from special squad and Laxmisagar police station seized a country-made semi-automatic pistol, two magazines and nine live bullets (7.65mm) from Manoj’s possession.

“Two more youths are involved in the crime and Manoj was absconding since the firing incident. We will arrest his accomplices very soon,” the Bhubaneswar DCP said while briefing the mediapersons.