In a significant crackdown on illegal arms, the Pimpri Chinchwad police have seized three country-made pistols and arrested three individuals while detaining a minor in separate operations across the twin township. The actions, carried out on Friday and Saturday, targeted the Chinchwad, Chakan, and Bhosari areas, highlighting ongoing concerns about the proliferation of illicit firearms in the region.
Minor Detained with Firearm in Chinchwad
The police's weekend operation began on Saturday when the Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch unit apprehended a 16-year-old youth in the Chinchwad area. Acting on a specific tip-off, officers took the minor into custody near the Gawadenagar flyover. A search led to the recovery of a country-made pistol and one live cartridge from his possession.
The detained minor was subsequently handed over to the Chinchwad police station for a deeper investigation. "We are questioning the minor to know the source of the firearm," stated an officer from the Chinchwad police, indicating efforts to trace the supply chain of these weapons.
Three Adults Arrested in Chakan and Bhosari Raids
In parallel actions on Friday, the crime branch and Bhosari police arrested three men and confiscated two more illegal firearms. A crime branch team intercepted two individuals in Chakan on Friday evening. From them, the police recovered one country-made pistol and a cartridge.
The arrested duo were identified as Vaibhav Mane (29), a resident of Chinchwad, and Albert Joseph (25), who hails from Dehu Road. A formal case has been registered against them at the Chakan police station.
In a separate but simultaneous operation, the Bhosari police arrested Ajay Nakhate (23) from Khed taluka. Nakhate was taken into custody from the Devekar Vasti area, also based on a tip-off, and was found in possession of a firearm.
Source of Weapons and Ongoing Investigation
An officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch revealed a concerning pattern behind the seized weapons. "Most of these seized firearms were smuggled from different villages in Madhya Pradesh," the officer disclosed. The investigation suggests these arms entered the city before the recent Pune police action in Umrati, Madhya Pradesh.
The police are now intensifying their probe to dismantle the network facilitating these illegal transactions. "We are searching for the middlemen between the sellers and the purchasers of those weapons," the officer added, underscoring the focus on intercepting the chain of distribution. These coordinated efforts demonstrate the police's commitment to curbing the flow of illegal arms and ensuring public safety in Pune's industrial belt.
