The Hindu : Illegal arms factory unearthed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Illegal arms factory unearthed

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. Three persons, allegedly involved in large-scale manufacture and sale of country-made firearms at Loni in Ghaziabad, were arrested by the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station police this Wednesday. A haul of 22 country-made pistols, two live cartridges of Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), and other raw materials were recovered from the unit.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Deependra Pathak, the railway police received a tip-off that a unit for manufacturing of country-made firearms was being run at Loni and one of those running the unit would come to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station to dispose of a firearm. Subsequently, the sleuths laid a trap and arrested a man later identified as Mohammad Shabir (40).

The police recovered four country-made firearms from his possession. During interrogation, he disclosed that he along with one Faridul and Rashid had set up a makeshift unit for manufacturing of firearms at Loni.

At his instance, the police mounted a raid at the unit and seized 18 other pistols, 2 barrels of .12 bore, 37 barrels of .315 bore, 32 pin caps, four butt bodies, 160 side covers, 32 small pistol butt bodies, a double barrel, 220 triggers, a grinding machine, an electric and a hand-actuated drilling machine, a welding machine, springs and other articles used to manufacture firearms.

Faridul and Rashid were also arrested. During interrogation, they disclosed that they were into this business for the past year. They used to dispose of over 30 firearms on an average every month and earned about Rs. 50,000 through the business. As per an estimate, the three have sold around 500 country-made pistols to criminals till now.

The police said they are now trying to trace the bulk buyers of the consignments.

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