Bhubaneswar/Kandhamal: Amid rising concerns over the use of country-made firearms in criminal activities, Kandhamal district police have unearthed three illegal gun manufacturing units and arrested 15 persons.

Acting on specific inputs, police teams carried out raids in dense forest areas under Tumudibandh, Brahmani village, and Phiringia police limits. The operation was conducted under the direction of Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Harisha B.C.

During the drive, police seized 42 country-made firearms and confiscated substantial quantities of equipment used in manufacturing illegal weapons from the three units.

Baliguda Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shubham Bhosale said similar drives will continue in the coming days to eliminate illegal arms activities in the district.

Notably, two recent murder cases in Tikabali and Belghar areas allegedly involved the use of country-made firearms.

The SDPO further added such weapons are increasingly being used in illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking, posing serious law and order challenges in the region.

Police said further investigation is underway, and more arrests are likely as efforts continue to dismantle the network behind these illegal gun manufacturing units.