STF busts inter-state gun racket in Bhubaneswar; pistols seized, two arrested

In a major pre–New Year enforcement drive, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Police has busted an inter-state illegal arms racket operating in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Acting on credible intelligence inputs, the STF foiled a clandestine weapons deal in Bhubaneswar and seized a significant cache of arms brought from Bihar’s Munger district, a region long known for illegal gun manufacturing.

During the operation at Bankual under the Badagada police limits, officials recovered one country-made pistol, five country guns, and seven live rounds. The raid was conducted after the STF received specific information that arms dealers from Munger had arrived in the city to finalise a deal ahead of the New Year.

The arrested accused have been identified as Pintu Kumar and Avinash Kumar, both residents of Munger. According to investigators, the duo had allegedly been supplying illegal firearms to local criminal networks and had travelled to Bhubaneswar to expand their operations. However, their plan was thwarted when the STF team intercepted them during the transaction.

Authorities said the accused failed to provide any legitimate explanation or documents regarding the possession of the weapons. Following their arrest, they were produced before a local court, which denied them bail and sent them to judicial custody.

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STF officials stated that both accused will be taken on remand for further interrogation. Investigators aim to trace the source of the weapons, identify potential buyers, and uncover the wider network facilitating the transfer of illegal firearms from Bihar to Odisha.