Bhubaneswar: Police today arrested two persons for allegedly operating an illegal firearms manufacturing unit Siarimala forest of Ganjam.
Buguda police unearthed an illegal workshop hidden near the Siarimala forest. The site, tucked into the foothills, had been used to produce unlicensed firearms. Two country-made guns along with assorted parts and manufacturing tools were recovered from the location.
The arrested men are Subash Gamang, 45, and Bulu Dalabehera, 50, both residents of Jhadapalli village under Gangapur police station limits. Their capture began the previous night during a routine patrol along the Jholori-Pangidi stretch of State Highway-33. Officers stopped them and found two firearms in their possession.
Under questioning, the two men revealed the existence of the forest-based unit. A police team then moved to the spot, secured the area, and seized the remaining equipment and components. Authorities believe the operation had been active for several years.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Bhanjanagar) Deepak Kumar Mishra confirmed the sequence of events and stated that investigators are now working to map the supply network and identify anyone who may have acquired weapons from the unit. Further inquiries are continuing.
