Koraput: In a major success against drugs mafia, police in Odisha’s Koraput district arrested five notorious criminals and seized arms and ammunition as well as a huge quantity of ganja from them, police said on Wednesday.
Acting swiftly on a tip-off, a team from Padwa Police Station intercepted a Mahindra Bolero transporting ganja from Dokanput to Pottangi on Tuesday.
The police team spotted the target vehicle and signalled it to stop. Instead, the driver accelerated, triggering a high-speed chase. When the police halted the vehicle near Arlabput, five men jumped out and tried to flee into the forest. One of them also brandished a pistol.
However, the police apprehended all five suspects without injury and recovered the weapon.
Among the arrested was Lal Bahadur Darjee, a notorious offender facing over 20 serious cases, including POCSO, NDPS violations, and extortion. Courts had issued multiple non-bailable warrants against him.
Following the arrests, the police seized 350 kg of ganja, two pistols with a magazine, mobile phones, identity documents, and cash. They also impounded the Mahindra Bolero used in the smuggling.
Meanwhile, in a separate action, police invoked the National Security Act against Hrudananda Nayak alias Prince. With 17 cases involving extortion, dacoity, and NDPS violations, he had long terrorized areas like Jeypore, Boriguma, and Nabarangpur. Police arrested him after completing all legal formalities.
