Deoghar: In a major joint operation, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Deoghar Police arrested three criminals and busted an alleged arms trafficking and contract killing network in Deoghar.
The accused were taken into custody during coordinated raids and later sent to judicial custody. Police recovered two illegal firearms, seven live cartridges, and multiple mobile phones from their possession.
According to officials, the case was registered at Deoghar Nagar Police Station based on a complaint filed by ATS station in-charge Abhinandan Kumar. The complaint alleged that local resident Ajit Kumar Pandey, along with his associates, was actively involved in illegal arms supply for criminal activities.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in arms trafficking and admitted they were willing to carry out contract killings for money. Acting on this input, teams from ATS Ranchi and local police launched a joint raid, leading to the arrest of Ajit Kumar Pandey, Pankaj Kumar Singh, and Sonu Kumar Singh.
Another आरोपी, identified as Parvez from Munger district in Bihar, is currently absconding. Police teams are conducting continuous raids to track him down.
Seizures made during the operation include a country-made pistol, seven 7.65 mm live cartridges, and a Vivo smartphone from Ajit Pandey’s residence. Another country-made firearm and a Nokia keypad phone were recovered from Pankaj Kumar Singh, while a mobile phone was seized from Sonu Kumar Singh.
Police records reveal that Ajit Pandey, also known as Ajit Kumar Mishra, has a long criminal history, with multiple cases related to murder, extortion, illegal arms possession, and violations under the Explosives Act registered in both Jharkhand and Bihar. Authorities are currently verifying the criminal backgrounds of the other accused.
The operation involved ATS officials from Ranchi along with personnel from Deoghar and Jasidih police stations. Officials stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest the absconding accused and dismantle the wider criminal network linked to the racket.