Berhampur: An illegal firearms manufacturing unit operating in a forest area in Odisha’s Ganjam district was busted and two persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the racket.
A police team unearthed the unit near the Siarimala forest within Buguda police station limits and seized two country-made guns, weapon parts and equipment used for manufacturing firearms, police sources said.
The arrested persons have been identified as Subash Gamang (45) and Bulu Dalabehera (50), both residents of Jhadapalli village under Gangapur police station limits.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Bhanjanagar) Deepak Kumar Mishra said the duo was intercepted during night patrolling on Jholori-Pangidi State Highway-33 on Wednesday, when police recovered two firearms from their possession.
“During interrogation, the accused persons disclosed that they were operating an illegal firearm-making unit near the foothills of Siarimala forest. Police subsequently reached the spot and seized several machines, tools and components used for manufacturing firearms,” he said.
Police suspect that the accused had been running the unit for the past few years.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the supply chain in the racket and identify the persons who purchased the arms, police added.