Patna, Oct. 8: Patna police today launched Operation Vishwas to better law and order during Durga Puja and the upcoming Muharram, and arrested six suspected criminals, including a woman, and recovered arms and ammunition from them.

They also busted two gangs that looted locked homes when their residents were on vacation, and liquor smuggling. The arrested persons include a dreaded extortionist, Ranvijay Kumar, a resident of Maranchi in Patna district. He was caught from Haimza area, and has been allegedly involved in several cases of extortion and land-grabbing. A pistol and nine bullets were found on him.

Also, nabbed were Bihari Paswan and Rita Devi from the Bypass area. Two pistols and 17 bullets were found on them. The duo allegedly researched their targets' lifestyle and robbed them at gunpoint. They were also involved in looting Rs 82,000 from a bank agent in August. The duo is a part of a gang operated by Sadhu Paswan.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj said: "Rita is the wife of Sadhu and was used to deflect suspicion when the gang carried out the crime. We had intelligence inputs and accordingly instructed our officers to take action."

In another operation, three persons were arrested from Karmalichak in Patna with two pistols, six bullets and 38 large-sized bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor. The arrested persons have been identified as Chottu Sharma, Sasan Kumar and Mahfooz Alam.

The police said the arrested trio and their associates used to target passengers arriving at Masaurhi railway and bus stands, and also indulged in smuggling IMFL from the neighbouring states to sell it here at high prices. Liquor is banned in Bihar, while the case is not so in neighbouring states such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal.

"We launched Operation Vishwas to ensure a safe Durga Puja and Muharram for the residents of Patna. It will continue. Directions have been passed on to all station house officers in the district to ensure the arrest of absconders, people against whom warrants are pending, and those indulging in liquor and narcotics smuggling," the SSP said.

Maharaaj added that people can provide information related to crime and criminals on Patna police's WhatsApp number 9939919191.

Their identities will be kept a secret and action will be initiated against those trying to break the law.