Sambalpur: In a major crackdown, a gang involved in the illegal trading of cough syrup was busted today by a team of Sadar police in Sambalpur district. Police have arrested 26 persons in this connection, seized around 10,800 bottles of the medication, and initiated a detailed probe.
The 26 accused are residents of Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Subarnapur districts. They were identified as Tanmay Bagh (23), Rahul Dehuri (19), Narasingha Tarai (28), Prafulla Rana (28), Sushant Nag (34), Karan Nial (21), Rajababu Saha (22), Ganesh Barman (22), Tusif Akram (33), Mohammed Shakir (35), Bhabani Shankar Tarasia (24), Manish Sahoo (27), Nigam Suna (23), Shyama Tandi (30), K Sujit (23), Suman Ranbida (24), Kudartha Mahananda (40), Laba Sendaria (32), Mohammed Chand (24), Mohammed Sarfraj (28), SK Sabbir (35), Deba Oram (20), Abdul Kalim (28), Sankirtan Munda (29), Sanket Mishra (23), and Sibaji Sahani (26).
According to a police source, the notorious gang was procuring cough syrup from West Bengal and was selling them in Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Subarnapur districts.
Cash of Rs 20,000, a truck engaged in the crime, a sedan, two auto-rickshaws, and two motorcycles were also seized from the possession of the arrested persons.
