The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Odisha's Bhadrak intercepted a ganja smuggling attempt on the Bhubaneswar–Delhi Rajdhani Express on Thursday. A young man and woman from Patna, Bihar, were arrested while transporting over 26 kilograms of ganja in three suitcases.

According to reports, the RPF received information on October 16 about the ganja being smuggled on the train. Acting on the tip-off, RPF personnel detained the two individuals when the train halted at Bhadrak railway station. 

Initially, the duo denied ownership of the suitcases, but later admitted to smuggling the ganja to Delhi. Train tickets found in their possession corroborated their statement.

Security Heightened Ahead of Kali Puja

Bhadrak has been particularly busy with the upcoming Kali Puja festival, attracting visitors from across Odisha and other states. In view of the increased footfall, security measures have reportedly been intensified to curb crime. During routine patrolling, the RPF noted the suspicious behaviour of the two individuals before their arrest.

Investigation Underway

The identity of the mastermind behind the operation remains unknown and will be determined after further investigation. The case is being treated as a significant achievement for the RPF in combating crime on the railways, informed official sources.

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