Swords, liquor seized from car in Odisha’s Berhampur, police suspect murder plot

In a late-night raid on Monday, police seized five sharp-edged weapons and several liquor bottles from a car parked in suspicious circumstances near Ankuli Bypass on the National Highway in Berhampur.

During the process, one youth was detained while others managed to escape, raising suspicions of a larger criminal conspiracy.

According to sources, the incident occurred when a patrol team from Lanjipalli police outpost noticed an SUV parked suspiciously near the Ankuli Bypass stretch.

On noticing the police, a group of youths sitting inside the vehicle reportedly jumped out and fled the spot. Their sudden flight aroused further suspicion, prompting police to conduct a thorough search of the abandoned car.

Swords and Liquor Recovered

During the search, officers recovered five sharp-edged swords along with multiple bottles of liquor from inside the vehicle. 

The combination of liquor stock and dangerous weapons has led investigators to suspect that the group may have been preparing for a violent attack. Authorities then seized and shifted it to Baidyanathpur police station for further examination.

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CCTV Footage Helps Identify Suspect

Although most of the youths managed to escape in the darkness, police began scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity. Based on the recordings, one of the suspects was traced and later detained.

As of the last reports, the youth is currently being interrogated at the Baidyanathpur police station. Investigators are probing his role in the case and whether he is linked to any organised criminal activity in the city, said sources.

Murder Plot Angle Under Probe

Preliminary inquiry has led police to suspect that the seized weapons were part of a plan to carry out a violent crime, possibly even a murder.

Officials are now trying to establish whether the youths had targeted an individual or were acting on behalf of a larger network. Efforts are underway to identify and nab the other culprits who fled the spot.

This seizure comes close on the heels of multiple arms recoveries in the same locality under Lanjipalli police outpost. In recent weeks, seven crude bombs and sharp weapons were seized from near the jail overbridge, while five more bombs were recovered from an under-construction house.