Two arrested in chips smuggling arrested accused joined BJP to avoid arrest

Keonjhar: Keonjhar police arrested two accused from different places in connection with smuggling of metal chips in Bandha village under Dhokotha gram panchayat of Ghasipura police station. The arrested were identified as Surendra Patra and Sushanta Patra from Bandha village under Ghasipura block. The duo had joined the BJP to escape arrest in the presence of senior leaders and people’s representatives. But the local BJP workers opposed their merger.According to sources, Gayatri Company left about 40,000 cubic meters of chips at the NH 20 construction site about eight years ago. The Revenue Department seized the chips on 13 October 2018 and left them there. However, during the investigation the Mining Department found only 3,965 cubic meters of chips at that location.Deputy Superintendent of Police Cyber and Economic Offence Police Station, Keonjhar, Bijay Kumar Bihari said that after receiving a complaint from Ghaispura tahasil, a case (12/2026) was registered, and the two accused were arrested and produced in court on Thursday. Further investigation is ongoing.According to sources from a few years ago, the administration seized huge quantities of chips dumped in a ground in Bandha village. In April, 2026 the chips were stolen without the knowledege of the administraion.