Ara: Bhojpur Police on Thursday claimed to have busted a criminals’ den operating out of a private hostel in Ara, arresting six people, including two history-sheeters, and recovering a loaded pistol, ammunition, allegedly stolen bikes and railway property.Bhojpur SP Awadhesh Dixit said the raid was conducted at Nutan Chhatrawas under the Ara Nawada police station area following a tip-off that some people staying there were allegedly planning a crime. A magistrate and senior police officers were present during the raid, which was videographed.According to the SP, police found hardly any students staying at the hostel. He said the premises were allegedly being used by antisocial elements, including some with criminal records. Dixit said the investigation also indicated that people involved in a land dispute had allegedly used those staying at the hostel to threaten and intimidate landowners. He further alleged that liquor parties were held there at night and other illegal activities took place.Police first arrested Pradyuman Singh, son of Bhushan Singh and a resident of Keshavpur under Barhara block of Bhojpur district, and allegedly recovered a loaded pistol from his possession. Dixit said Singh had previous criminal cases against him. Based on information provided by him, police arrested five more people from the hostel and recovered eight live cartridges, two magazines, several allegedly stolen bikes and railway property from the rooms.“The hostel has been sealed in the presence of a magistrate, and an FIR has been registered at Ara Nawada police station,” said Dixit, adding that appropriate legal action would be taken against the hostel’s custodian or caretaker if the investigation establishes that criminals were being harboured there.Following the raid, Bhojpur police decided to verify private hostels and lodges in urban areas of the district to check illegal activities being carried out from such premises.
