Bhubaneswar: The Special Crime Unit of the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Commissionerate Police has arrested two members of a major inter-state firearms smuggling syndicate during a decoy operation in Bhubaneswar. Police recovered one carbine, five semi-automatic pistols, and nine live rounds from their possession.
Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh informed at a press conference that credible intelligence had been received about the duo’s attempt to sell illegal firearms in Bhubaneswar. Acting on the tip-off, Special Crime Unit personnel posed as buyers, established contact with the accused, and successfully trapped them.
The arrested individuals, identified as Divyanshu and Chandan, were reportedly sourcing the weapons from Munger in Bihar—one of the country’s known hubs of illicit gun manufacturing—and bringing them to Bhubaneswar for sale.
The Commissioner stated that the police are determined to trace the entire network and uncover all inter-state connections involved in the racket. “We will go to the root of the syndicate,” he assured.
Police said the duo had visited Bhubaneswar earlier as well and had already sold firearms in the city. Investigators are now trying to identify their previous buyers and locations to which the weapons were supplied. Commissionerate Police will also alert Bihar Police to aid in broader action against the network.
Over the past year, more than 50 gun runners and associated criminals—including land mafias, cattle smugglers, drug traffickers, and mining mafias—have been arrested by the Commissionerate Police, many of whom carried illegal weapons for intimidation and dominance.
This is the third major arms-related operation in the last few months. On September 17, the Special Crime Unit busted a long-running gun mafia operating for 17 years, arresting three persons and seizing eight country-made firearms, 34 rounds of ammunition, 10 magazines, and three cars. Again, on September 27, another arms dealer was arrested with 10 firearms and eight live rounds.
With the latest arrests, the Commissionerate Police has intensified its crackdown on illegal firearms and reiterated its resolve to dismantle the syndicate operating across state borders.
