Criminal gang busted in Sambalpur, 6 arrested

Sambalpur: With the arrest of six persons with criminal record and seizure of firearms from them, the police today claimed to have busted a gang in Sambalpur district.

All six persons have criminal antecedents and were involved in extortion cases and formed part of land, transport and tender mafia operating in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts, said Superintendent of Police Akhilesvar Singh.

Those arrested were identified as Sanjeeb Khandelwal (28) of Nandpara, Anand Natha (32) of Kumbharpara, Md Sarif (39) of Motijharan, Saddam Hussain (25) of forest colony in Motijharan, Bulu alias Kunjabihari Kumbhar (27) of Kanteipali and Sk Mujibuddin of Kumbharpara area in Sambalpur.

Police seized eight firearms, including a 9 mm Mouser, two 7.62 Mousers, two revolvers, two single shot and one double barrel country made firearms, besides 14 ammunitions from the accused.

While two cases have been registered with the Town police station, three cases were registered in Dhanupali police station and one in Sadar police station of Sambalpur against the six persons, they said.

Police had specific information about the illegal possession of firearms by these criminals, formed a team and raided several areas in the city and arrested the criminals.

At least eight others of the group are still at large and efforts are on to nab them, Singh said.