Five held for running illegal firearms factory, supplying arms

Delhi Police busted an illegal firearms manufacturing syndicate and arrested five suspects involved in crimes including murder, robbery and Arms Act cases, an officer said on Friday.

According to the police, the syndicate supplied firearms to gangsters in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The police have also recovered at least 20 sophisticated country-made pistols, 12 live cartridges and machinery involved in the manufacturing of these firearms.

As part of special drives to nab those involved in illegal firearms supply and manufacture, the police laid a trap on January 4 at Kapashera and arrested Bharat, 35, with a country-made pistol and a live cartridge.

Raids were conducted at Kaili village in Meerut, and Ashraf Ali, 50, Upender, 32, and Satish, 49, were arrested on the spot. They were accused of manufacturing and supplying illegal firearms to gangsters in Delhi-NCR and neighbouring States.

The probe also led to the arrest of accused Imteyaz, 28, who was involved in the procurement and supply of illegal firearms.

“A probe is under way to find others associated with the syndicate,” said Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West).