In a significant breakthrough, the Daspalla police in Odisha’s Nayagarh district uncovered an illegal firearms manufacturing unit in Duara village late last night, following a tip-off from reliable sources. The clandestine operation, hidden in the heart of the village, has led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of weapons and manufacturing equipment, with authorities now intensifying efforts to apprehend a fourth suspect who remains at large.
The police launched a raid in the Dihasahi area of Duara village, targeting the residence of Rajesh Kumar Pradhan, a 27-year-old local. During the operation, authorities recovered one illegal firearm, a pistol, and various tools and materials used for crafting weapons. Based on information extracted from Pradhan, the police extended their search to Madhyakhand, where two additional suspects—identified as Tapan Parida, 25, and Gobardhan Parida, 48—were apprehended. Gobardhan, a resident of Gad Bhitar Sahi in Madhyakhand, is reportedly the grandfather of Tapan, revealing a familial link in this illicit network.
Items seized from the homes of Tapan and Gobardhan included additional equipment and materials used in the production of firearms. Nayagarh District Superintendent of Police (SP) S. Sushree disclosed these details during a press conference held on Tuesday evening, June 3, 2025. She revealed that a fourth suspect, Bibhuti Parida, 27, also from Madhyakhand and Tapan’s brother, has fled the scene and remains absconding. The SP assured the public that efforts are underway to apprehend Bibhuti at the earliest.
Investigations have revealed that the illegal firearms factory was not only producing guns but also distributing them across inter-district regions. The police are now probing the extent of this network, seeking to identify the locations where these weapons were sold and any additional criminals involved in the trade. “We are determined to uncover the full scope of this operation and bring all culprits to justice,” SP Sushree stated during the press briefing.
The three arrested individuals—Rajesh Kumar Pradhan, Tapan Parida, and Gobardhan Parida—face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act. A case was registered at the Daspalla police station based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Jay Chandra Behera Dalei. The accused were produced before the Daspalla Judicial Court, where their bail applications were rejected, leading to their remand in the Daspalla sub-jail.
The raid has sent shockwaves through the region, raising concerns about the proliferation of illegal arms in Nayagarh and beyond. Authorities are working to trace the buyers of these weapons and determine their potential use in criminal activities. The presence of a sophisticated gun-making setup in a rural area like Daspalla has underscored the need for heightened vigilance and stricter enforcement to curb such illegal operations.
Additional District Superintendent of Police Subash Chandra Panda, Sanatan Kal, and Daspalla Police Station’s Inspector-in-Charge Anita Sahu were present at the press conference, signaling a coordinated effort to tackle this serious threat. As the hunt for Bibhuti Parida continues, the police have urged the public to come forward with any information that could aid in his capture and the broader investigation.
This bust marks a critical step in curbing the illegal arms trade in Odisha, with law enforcement vowing to leave no stone unturned in dismantling such dangerous networks.
