Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Patna, Apr 8: Bihar Police have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing operation in Sarwa village, under the Dhoraiya police station in Banka district, arresting 48-year-old Bodh Narayan Mandal in connection with the case. The raid was conducted Tuesday evening after a confidential tip-off from the Special Task Force (STF), Patna.

During the operation, police seized two semi-finished pistols, multiple firearm components including barrels, slides, and butts, as well as tools and machinery used for weapon fabrication. Officials also recovered seven live .32 caliber cartridges, lathe machine parts, grinders, drill bits, and other equipment.

“The accused, who has a prior criminal record, was taken into custody immediately,” said Indrajit Baitha, SDPO of Sadar range. A case has been registered at Dhoraiya police station under the Arms Act (Case No. 101/26), with further legal proceedings underway.

The raid was executed by a team comprising Dhoraiya SHO Amit Kumar, SI Asif Akhtar, STF personnel, and other police staff. Authorities have now launched a broader investigation to identify additional members of the illegal arms network operating in the region.

Banka, located near the Jharkhand border and adjacent to Munger—a district notorious for both licensed and illicit gun production—has increasingly seen illegal manufacturing of weapons ranging from crude single-shot pistols to high-end replicas of brands like Smith & Wesson, Beretta, and even improvised AK-47s. This operation underscores the intensified efforts of law enforcement to curb criminal arms activities in the area.