Khordha: Busting a drug and illegal mining racket in Khordha district, the Special Task Force of Odisha Crime Branch last night arrested a peddler following an encounter near TLC Road in which he sustained bullet injury.
The held peddler has been identified as Manoranjan Sahu.
The STF which had put the racket on its radar since past few months conducted a raid at LIC Ground in Khordha following a tip off on the presence of kingpin Sandeep Pradhan along with some aides. During the raid the miscreants opened fire at the cops in a bid to escape injuring a couple them.
As police retaliated Sahu who was a close aide of the kingpin sustained bullet injury to be nabbed. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Bhubaneswar.
However, Pradhan managed to escape from the spot during the firing.
Following the arrest of the accused and his subsequent interrogation police have found vital clues on a drugs racket operating from Jaleswar of Balasore district.
Pradhan was sending drug consignment to Khordha through Jaleswar after bringing those from the neighbouring country Bangladesh. Later the drug was being sold to customers across the State, informed police.
The racket was engaging school and college students as ‘pawns’ in the drug business, they added.
The STF has launched a massive manhunt to trace the kingpin of the racket and his aides.
Also Read: Adulterated drug racket busted in Odisha’s Sambalpur
Kalinga AI