The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch on Saturday arrested Bapu Parida, a key associate of gangster Sheik Usman Ali alias Tito, from Paradip.
Parida, president of Paradip Nirakar Dumper Association, was arrested for unlawful possession of weapons and for extortion. Sources said he has 28 cases pending against him at various police stations, including one case in the Chauliaganj police station in Cuttack.
“Several cases under Sections 387, 506, 120(B), 34, 25 and 27 under IPC have been lodged against him in several police stations,” said a police official. Earlier, the STF had interrogated him several times on charges of his involvement in expanding Tito’s crime syndicate.
On July 17, the STF had detained eight persons after conducting raids at various places in Cuttack and later arrested four associates of Tito following a marathon grilling the next day.
Sources said the arrested persons used to help Tito in carrying out activities such as extortion, cattle trafficking and tender fixing.