In a significant breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch on Monday arrested two persons, including a 21-year-old BBA student, here for running clandestine arms trade.
Acting on inputs, an STF team intercepted Shanu Poddar (21), a resident of Jharkhand studying BBA at the NIS College here. The cops seized three 7.65mm sophisticated automatic pistols and 22 bullets from his possession.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the youth had procured the arms from outside the State and was
supposed to deliver the same to one Suresh Panigrahi (24) in the Khandagiri police station area.
Later, the STF lodged a case under Section 25 (a) of the Arms Act and arrested both Poddar and Panigrahi.
The two arrestees were produced in the Bhubaneswar SDJM Court. Further investigation was on in this connection.
“Steps are being taken to find out the main source of arms procurement, the persons to whom such arms and ammunition have been delivered and the entire networking of the gang having inter-State links of such illegal trade,” said a statement issued by the STF.
