Berhampur: At least 18 criminals were arrested and 17 illegal firearms and 66 bullets were seized from them in an overnight special drive to prevent possible organised crimes in Ganjam district, police said on Sunday.
Most of the arrested persons are seasoned criminals, including members of organised crime syndicate, and several criminal cases are pending against them, police said.
“The drive was conducted in areas under Aska, Bhanjanagar, Chamakhandi, Kotinada, Polasara and Sheragada police stations and firearms seized from the accused,” said IG (southern range), Niti Sekhar, on Sunday.
He said the accused might have sourced the firearms from outside the state. “We will form a special team to bust the supply racket,” he added. He praised the proactive approach of preventive policing initiated by the Ganjam SP.
The highest six persons were arrested and five firearms seized by Sheragada police followed by Kotinada (five arrests and four country-made guns seized) and Aska ( three arrests and three guns).
SP (Ganjam), Suvendu Kumar Patra, said that acting on a tip-off, they conducted the drives in these police station areas and seized the firearms.
“Besides registering cases under the Arms Act and different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the accused in Aska, Sheragada and Kotinada have also been booked under Section 111 (organised crime) of BNS for the first time in the district,” he said.
“We are also looking at the possibility of seizure of properties acquired illegally by the accused,” he added.