Police bust arms trafficking racket in Bhubaneswar, seize 6 pistols

Bhubaneswar: The special crime unit (SCU) of commissionerate police busted an arms trafficking racket in the city on Friday, arresting a smuggler and recovering 6 semi-automatic pistols and 10 bullets.The accused has been identified as Manoj Kumar Mallick, 37, alias Papu, a resident of Jajpur district. Mallick, who had earlier been arrested in connection with an abduction and rape case in Jajpur about five years ago, allegedly sourced the firearms from Bihar’s Munger region — infamous for illegal gun manufacturing — and was planning to sell them here.Police sources revealed that Mallick had been involved in gun trading for the past three to four years, though this is his first arrest in an arms trafficking case.

His clientele reportedly included criminals engaged in land grabbing and illegal property possession in the capital city.Investigators are now trying to find out the intended buyers of the seized weapons and whether Mallick was part of a larger criminal network. Officials said all possible angles are being examined to trace the supply chain, identify financiers, and uncover other persons linked to the racket.

“Acting on a coordinated intelligence tip-off, the SCU executed a surveillance operation targeting illegal firearms trade in Bhubaneswar. Six semi-automatic pistols and ten live bullets were seized. A thorough investigation continues to trace the supply chain and identify broader networks involved,” said police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh.Commissionerate police highlighted that in the last six months alone, SCU has seized at least 39 illegal firearms and arrested 40 gun traders in the city.

Officials stressed that these operations have prevented serious crimes by disrupting the supply of weapons to criminal groups.“Had the weapons not been seized, they would have landed in the hands of criminals for committing crimes. To combat arms smuggling, we urge the community to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. Informers’ identities will be kept strictly confidential,” Singh said.Citizens can contact the SCU between 10 am and 8 pm at 0674-2916383 to share information related to illegal arms activities, drugs trafficking and other organised crimes, police said.