Following the recent firing incidents in national Capital, the Delhi Police has launched sustained operations to nab criminals involved in supplying illegal arms and ammunitions across the city. In one such operation, the sleuths of Delhi Police Special Cell have arrested two persons involved in manufacturing and selling arms and ammunitions to criminals operating in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP). Police have also recovered 30 country-made pistols from the possession of the duo.

The accused has been identified as Pawan Singh and Chandar Singh, both residents of district Dhar in MP. According to Manishi Chandra, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, on June 18, specific inputs were received that a huge consignment of illegal arms would be delivered near Jheel Wala Park, Sector-3, Rohini, Delhi in early morning hours.

“Acting on the tip-off, a trap was laid and accused were arrested near Jheel Wala Park in Rohini where they were spotted waiting for someone. A total of 30 illegal pistols were recovered from their possession. A case under appropriate sections of law has been registered at Special Cell police station,” said the DCP.

“During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the trade in illicit firearms has been inherited by them as a hereditary occupation and they have been involved in the same for over 10 years. They had learnt the skill of manufacturing firearms from their ancestors as it has been a running profitable business with over 80 years vintage. Presently, their family members manufacture illegal arms at a cottage industry and they are supplied in various parts of the country including Delhi,” said the DCP.

Explaining their entire modus operandi for manufacturing illegal weapons, the DCP told that the accused Pawan uses iron scrap and other materials to prepare .32 bore semi automatic pistols.

 “The accused Pawan has expertise in using bicycle frame for fabricating the weapon. The spring for slide and magazine is prepared from iron wire drawn from tyres of heavy vehicles while the trigger and hammer are prepared out of thick and hard iron drawn from the shaft of scarped vehicles,” said the DCP adding that lastly, when all the parts get assembled, the accused then used to use lathe machine and filers to give it a smooth final touch.

“The whole process costs around Rs 7 thousand and one finished pistol eventually get sold for about Rs 25 thousand in cash. Pawan, during interrogation, also disclosed that in order to avoid detection, he has been using a temporary shed erected in a deep forest on a hill near his village for his assembly and finishing works,” said the DCP.

In March this year, Special Cell had busted an illegal arms syndicate by arresting two persons, Amrikan and Sheetal Singh from whom 52 sophisticated pistols were recovered. “Pawan Singh is an actual manufacturer of the consignment which was seized by the police in March,” said the DCP.