Dealers of illegal weapons to find it tough in Punjab

Arm dealers dealing in illegal weapons in Punjab would have a tough time in the days to come as the state police is going to increase its surveillance after busting an interstate gang.

The gang was indulging in manufacturing of weapons at illegal factories spread across several states.

The dealers of illegal weapons in the state have already sold 3,000-4,000 weapons in Punjab during the last around five years in association with their counterparts in other states. According to experts, high disposable income and people’s penchant for arms in the state has fuelled the sale of such weapons.

These inter-state gangs sell weapons, being made in illegal factories in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, after stamping them with the emblems of renowned armament factories and then pass them on as genuine arms. According to police officials, the modus operandi of this gang was to buy revolvers and pistols at a cost of Rs 35,000, which were then sold for Rs 1-2 lakh, after their forged documentation and fake billing.

 

Punjab Police has recovered 270 revolvers and pistols and more than 6000 cartridges after it busted an interstate gang. According to the officials, they were the main suppliers to the Maoists and their connection with other terror groups was being investigated.

In a press interaction, Punjab Director General of Police P S Gill said, this whole operation was carried out by the District Mansa police led by Senior Superintendent of Police H S Mann, and so for 15 persons including a woman had already been arrested and police parties were conducting raids to nab remaining 14 persons. They were the main suppliers to maoists. He also mentioned they will approach the home ministry and were planning to tie up with the central agency for further investigation.

The kingpin of the gang Anil Middha, had close links with sympathisers of maoists in Bihar through Mahesh Kumar, who has an illegal arms factory in Firozabad, which was unearthed and recovered by the Mansa police. He said Anil Middha had six specially designed vehicles, which were being used in supplying cartridges and bringing weapons.