Koraput: Police arrested eight persons involved in ganja smuggling and seized 340 kilograms of contraband, arms, cash, and multiple vehicles under Jeypore Sadar police limits in the district on Tuesday. The arrested persons have been identified as Kartik Bagh (36), Rabindra Barik (35), Ranjit Bagh (45), Goutam Bagh (28), Rabindra Samal (36), Karna Harijan (38), Sonu Mangaria (29), and Rahul Kumar (32), said police.
Police intercepted four vehicles suspected of involvement in illegal activities near Kanjei Maliguda under Jeypore Sadar police limits. Upon being stopped, the suspects attempted to evade police and fired two rounds at the officers. Police managed to catch the eight persons.
SP (Koraput) Rohit Verma said during the search of vehicles, police recovered over 340 kg of ganja, four vehicles, 10 cellphones, two country-made pistols with five rounds of live ammunition, and Rs 795 cash.
The arrested persons are history-sheeters, Verma said. Ranjit Bagh is a notorious criminal involved in ganja trafficking, extortion, robbery, and theft, with at least 22 cases registered against him in Koraput, Malkangiri districts, and Andhra Pradesh. Kartik Bagh is known to be a dreaded criminal involved in 20 criminal cases.