Rourkela: Suspended youth BJP leader Prakash Paswan was arrested from Bihar on Wednesday evening, 11 days after he went into hiding following the seizure of firearms and live ammunition from the government-run Rourkela Circuit House. Police are now taking steps to bring him to Rourkela for interrogation.

Police suspect Paswan to be the alleged mastermind behind providing shelter to armed criminals at the Circuit House. Two criminals were arrested from the premises in the early hours of August 15 with firearms and live bullets.

Following their arrest, police apprehended seven more criminals allegedly linked to Paswan. Firearms and ammunition were also seized from the accused during the subsequent investigation.

Investigators are expected to question Paswan about how the accused gained access to the government property and allegedly used it as a hideout. His interrogation could also shed light on possible administrative lapses that allowed armed criminals to stay at the Circuit House.

The arrest came a day after the Panposh SDJM court in Rourkela issued a non-bailable warrant against Paswan. He had been serving as the representative of the Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh BJP MP Jual Oram to the Rourkela Municipal Corporation.

Paswan’s arrest is likely to be a key development in the ongoing investigation into the Circuit House incident and the network of criminals allegedly associated with him.