Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on the illegal arms trade, the Special Crime Unit of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police has arrested three persons and seized a cache of firearms and ammunition.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mahesh Kumar Saha alias Tipu of Lohardaga village in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district, Md. Sakabat of Deulatangi village, and Firoz Alli Khan of Gayabandha village—both in Khordha district.
Acting on a specific intelligence input, the Special Crime Unit launched a surveillance operation targeting an illegal arms syndicate operating in the capital. The suspects were intercepted near Hatiasuni Square under Maitree Vihar Police Station while allegedly attempting to conduct an arms deal.
Police have registered a case (Special Crime Unit P.S. Case No. 6 dated 16.09.2025) under Sections 109(1)/3(5) of the BNS, read with Sections 25(1)(a), 25(1B), 26, 28, and 29 of the Arms Act, 1959.
During the operation, police seized:
- 8 semi-automatic pistols
- 34 rounds of live ammunition
- 10 magazines
- 4 mobile phones
- One four-wheeler vehicle
- Rs 2,400 in cash
Tipu was arrested from Jharkhand, while the other two accused were apprehended in Khordha district. All three are currently in police custody and are being interrogated for further leads on the arms supply network.
“We are committed to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of the public. The recovery of such a large number of firearms is a testament to the vigilance and efficiency of our force,” the press release read.
