STF arrests key accused in illegal arms racket operating between Bihar and Odisha

Cuttack, May 23: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police has apprehended the mastermind behind an illegal arms manufacturing and supply racket operating across state borders. Acting on intelligence inputs, an STF team, with support from Kasimbazar Police Station in Munger, Bihar, conducted a raid on May 20 and arrested one Md Aslam (50), a resident of Hazaratganj Chouk under Kasim Bazar Police Station, Munger.

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Md Aslam is a key accused in STF PS Case No. 07/2025 dated March 13, 2025, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, 1959. His role in procuring and distributing half-made small arms has been established, according to police sources.

Investigations revealed that Aslam had visited Bada Dhabaleswar village under 42 Mouza Police Station in Cuttack district, Odisha, multiple times to collect illegal firearms from co-accused Md Azam alias Budhu and Md Abid Husain. The illegal manufacturing unit was being run from the residence of another accused, Sarat Chandra Yadav (58), in Bada Dhabaleswar.

STF officials confirmed that several transactions had taken place between Md Aslam and his Odisha-based associates through various intermediaries to sustain the illegal arms operation. These dealings point to a well-organized supply chain aimed at producing and circulating illegal 7mm pistols.

Md Aslam was produced before a local court in Munger and brought to Bhubaneswar on transit remand. He will be produced today before the court of Judicial Magistrate, Cog Taking-4, Cuttack.

The case came to light after STF busted the illegal arms unit on March 13, 2025. During the raid, a large cache of arms-making materials was recovered from the house of Sarat Chandra Yadav. So far, five other accused have been arrested in connection with the case and have been forwarded to court.

Md Aslam is no stranger to law enforcement. He was previously arrested in a 2018 case registered under STF Kolkata PS Case No. 12, involving charges under IPC sections related to conspiracy and counterfeit currency, as well as the Arms Act. He remained lodged in Kolkata’s Presidency Jail until June 23, 2021.