Sonepur, May 22: In a significant crackdown on criminal activities, Sonepur Police arrested three individuals, including two interstate criminals, for allegedly plotting a robbery and being involved in illegal ganja trade. The arrests were made following a series of targeted raids based on specific intelligence inputs.
The accused have been identified as Mohammad Zulfikar Mandal from West Bengal, Satish Gaur from Uttar Pradesh, and Lipun Mahakur of Kirtipur village under the Sonepur police limits in Subarnapur district.
Addressing a press conference at Sonepur police station, Subarnapur SP Narayan Naik said that on the night of May 21, around 11:50 PM, police received credible information regarding a group of 8 to 10 miscreants planning a robbery near the Leprosy Colony by the Tel River. Acting swiftly, police conducted a raid at the spot and managed to apprehend Zulfikar and Gaur, while others managed to flee.
During the operation, police seized a magazine, one live round, a torchlight, an iron rod, and bricks from the duo. A case has been registered at Sonepur police station in connection with the incident.
Continuing the investigation, police launched raids at multiple locations to trace the absconding accused. One such raid was conducted at a house behind the District Collector’s office, where Lipun Mahakur was arrested. From his possession, officers recovered 4 kg of ganja, one pistol, and a live round. A separate case has been registered against Mahakur under the NDPS and Arms Acts.
SP Naik confirmed that both cases are interlinked and that further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. “Efforts are on to trace and apprehend the remaining accused involved in the conspiracy,” he said.
Additional SP K. Hariprasad, SDPO Pratap Kumar Tripathy, and IIC Tapas Kumar Bhoi were also present during the media briefing.
