Odisha gold heist probe uncovers Pakistan-sourced firearms; 14 pistols recovered

Bhubaneswar, April 26: In a major breakthrough in the daring Mannapuram Gold Finance heist in Odisha’s Sambalpur, police have arrested four more accused and recovered 14 sophisticated pistols from their possession.

Shockingly, investigations have revealed that the seized firearms were sourced from Pakistan, raising serious security concerns. Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamoo confirmed that efforts are underway to trace the exact channel through which these weapons entered India. Authorities are also probing whether these Pakistan-sourced arms were used not only in the Sambalpur robbery but in other criminal activities across Odisha.

The heist, carried out at gunpoint on January 3 this year, had stunned the state with its audacity. SP Bhamoo stated that police have successfully cracked almost all aspects of the operation, except for the disposal of stolen goods. Investigations revealed that a significant portion of the looted gold was sold to fund the purchase of advanced firearms.

The recent arrests were made with assistance from Delhi Police, bringing the total number of accused in custody to eight. The recovered firearms are now with Delhi Police for further forensic examination and investigation.