Illegal arms factory unearthed in Odisha

An illegal small arms factory was unearthed in Odish'as coal township of Angul on Monday and police seized over 100 fire arms, including 31 Mouzers besides 500 live catridges.

"At least five persons have been arrested in connection with the illegal arms manufacturing unit at Talcher," DGP Sanjib Mark told reporters in Bhubaneswar. Acting on a tip off, a raid was conducted on the factory, operating in a rented house at Champabati Road area here and seized the arms comprising revolvers and pistols, superintendent of police, Angul, Narsingh Bhol said.

However, the owner of the illegal unit Tukuna Swain, who is a coal trader, managed to escape before the raid was conducted, Bhol said. Swain also functions as a muscleman for several businessmen in the district and supplies the arms manufactured in the unit to coal traders who are suspected to be his financers. Efforts are on to nab him, Bhol said.