The Hindu : National : Major seizure of arms in Mumbai

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Sunday, May 22, 2005

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National

Major seizure of arms in Mumbai

Staff Reporter

Consignment came through Samudra Shipping line; ship in port from May 11 The weapons were in one of the 27 barrels of all-purpose grease on the ship

MUMBAI: The Mumbai police on Saturday seized a large consignment of foreign-made revolvers, pistols and live rounds from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) at Uran in Navi Mumbai.

The Commissioner of Police, A.N. Roy, said that they have arrested one person, Mukund Patel, who works as a supervisor in a company at the JNPT. They also recovered a pistol from him. He has been remanded to police custody till June 1.

Chota Rajan behind?

Mr. Roy said that the consignment was allegedly sent by Chota Rajan through one aide, Bharat Nepali. The weapons were in one of the 27 barrels of all-purpose grease on the ship. The consignment came through one Samudra Shipping line and the police are now investigating other elements that could be party to the crime.

The police recovered 34 revolvers and 3 pistols and 1280 live rounds valued at Rs. 1 crore. The arms were of Colts, of Webley Scott's and Smith and Wesson's.

The ship has been at the port from May 11 and a handling agent was supposed to get the consignment released.

However, the arms were seized by the police on Friday night.

When asked if the arms were meant for creating trouble in the city, the Commisioner replied saying they had not yet investigated and would not be able to tell the motive.

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