In a major security breach, Uttar Pradesh police intercepted a state-run bus and recovered a cache of illegal firearms, leading to the detention of three staff members late on Thursday night. The incident occurred in the Farrukhabad district, sending shockwaves through the region's transport and security apparatus.
Tip-Off Leads to Highway Interception
Acting on specific intelligence, law enforcement officials swung into action. The police had received a credible tip-off that illegal weapons were being smuggled on a bus travelling from Hardoi to the national capital, Delhi. A coordinated checking drive was immediately launched on the busy Etawah-Bareilly highway to nab the culprits.
The Special Operations Group (SOG) and local police personnel meticulously searched the targeted Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus. Their efforts bore fruit when they discovered a suspicious parcel. Upon examination, the package was found to contain four illegal firearms.
Conductor's Alleged Role and Detentions
Initial investigations by the police have revealed a startling modus operandi. A peanut-seller allegedly handed over the parcel to the bus conductor, Sandeep Mishra, with instructions to deliver it in Farrukhabad. This detail points to a planned operation using public transport as a covert carrier for illicit goods.
Following the recovery, the police seized the bus and took its crew into custody. The detained individuals have been identified as drivers Pawnesh Kumar and Ajay Kant, along with conductor Sandeep Mishra. Senior police officials, including Amritpur Circle Officer Sanjay Kumar Verma and SOG in-charge Sachin Chaudhary, reached the spot to oversee the operation and personally interrogate the detained trio.
Ongoing Investigation and Official Response
The case has been taken up for a thorough probe to unravel the entire network behind this smuggling attempt. Authorities are investigating the source of the weapons, their intended destination in Delhi, and the identities of the recipients.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, the Assistant Regional Manager of UPSRTC in Hardoi, confirmed that the bus belonged to the Hardoi depot and was en route from Hullapur in Hardoi to Delhi. He stated that the corporation is cooperating fully with the police investigation, which remains active and ongoing.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of public transport systems for criminal activities and has prompted calls for enhanced security checks and monitoring mechanisms for interstate buses.
