Police expose arms trafficking and contract killing network, three accused sent to jail

Deoghar. In a major joint operation, the Anti-Terrorism Squad ATS and Deoghar Police arrested three criminals with illegal firearms and live cartridges during a raid in Deoghar. The accused were later sent to judicial custody. Police recovered two illegal firearms, seven live cartridges and mobile phones from their possession.
According to the police, the case was registered at Deoghar Nagar Police Station under case number 170/26 on the written complaint of ATS station in-charge Abhinandan Kumar. In the complaint, it was alleged that Deoghar resident Ajit Kumar Pandey, along with his associates, was involved in illegal arms trafficking and supplying weapons for criminal activities.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that they were also ready to commit murder for money. Acting on the information, the ATS team from Ranchi, along with the Deoghar police, conducted raids and arrested Ajit Kumar Pandey, Pankaj Kumar Singh and Sonu Kumar Singh. Another accused, Parvez of Munger district in Bihar, was found involved in the case and is currently absconding. Police are conducting raids to arrest him.
During the operation, police recovered one country-made pistol, seven live cartridges of 7.65 mm caliber and a Vivo smartphone from Ajit Kumar Pandey’s house. One country-made firearm and a Nokia keypad phone were seized from Pankaj Kumar Singh, while one mobile phone was recovered from Sonu Kumar Singh.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ajit Pandey alias Ajit Kumar Mishra, resident of Nandan Nagar under Deoghar Nagar Police Station, Pankaj Kumar Singh of Krishnapuri, and Sonu Kumar Singh of Daulatpur in Jamui district of Bihar.
Police records show that Ajit Pandey has a long criminal history. Several cases, including murder, extortion, illegal arms possession and offences under the Explosives Act, have already been registered against him in Jharkhand and Bihar. The criminal records of the other accused are also being verified.
The joint raid was carried out by ATS officials from Ranchi along with officers of Deoghar Police and Jasidih Police Station. Police said efforts are on to arrest the absconding accused and uncover the entire criminal network behind the racket.