Three personnel from the 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) were arrested on Tuesday in the Manmunda area of Boudh for allegedly being in possession of 15 kg of cannabis. The accused include a havildar and two constables, all of whom were stationed in Manmunda for anti-Naxal operations and drug trafficking surveillance.
The arrested personnel have been identified as Kunal Singh (Havildar), Trilochan Rana (Constable), and Nilam Barla (Constable). The trio was apprehended during a raid conducted by the Manmunda police at the IRB barracks. Upon searching the personnel, authorities found 5 kg of cannabis with Kunal Singh, 7 kg with Trilochan Rana, and 3 kg with Nilam Barla.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Goel confirmed that investigations into the incident are underway. He stated that the authorities are looking into the scale of the operation and whether other members of the IRB could be involved. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the motive behind the possession and to trace any potential connections to trafficking networks,” Goel said.
Goel also mentioned that the IRB platoon assigned to the Manmunda police station is being scrutinized. The raid was carried out after receiving reliable information, and the arrested personnel were produced in court on Tuesday.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to the involvement of law enforcement officers in a drug-related offense. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the full extent of the operation and uncover any further connections.
