Bhubaneswar, 4 June (H.S.): In a major breakthrough, Nayagarh police have uncovered and dismantled an illegal firearms manufacturing unit operating deep inside the forests of Daspalla in Odisha’s Nayagarh district. The raid, conducted jointly by Nayagarh and Daspalla police teams based on specific intelligence inputs, marks a significant step in curbing the proliferation of unlicensed weapons in the region.

During the operation, three individuals—Rajesh Pradhan, Bibhuti Parida, and Tapan Parida, all residents of Dwaragaon in Daspalla—were arrested at the scene. One more suspect managed to escape and remains on the run. A manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the absconding accused.

“We are committed to dismantling this network,” said Nayagarh Superintendent of Police S. Susree during a press briefing. “The arrested individuals were involved in manufacturing firearms illegally and supplying them to poachers, criminals, and other anti-social elements, often for extortion or dacoity. We are also investigating their criminal backgrounds and checking for any pending cases.”

The raid led to the seizure of two homemade pistols, multiple lethal weapons, and an array of equipment used in the fabrication of firearms. The sophisticated tools and scale of the operation indicate that the arms factory had been running for several months with a steady clientele in the black market.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda