The Pimpri Chinchwad police have seized five country-made pistols from different areas, arresting three men and detaining two minors in separate operations. One of the arrested individuals had been externed from Pune district and Khalapur taluka in Raigad district for two years.
Police investigations revealed that the firearms were smuggled from Madhya Pradesh through a network of agents.
Arrests and Seizures
On Wednesday, Pimpri police arrested a food delivery worker, Azharuddin Sutar from Thergaon, and recovered a country-made pistol along with a cartridge. Investigations indicated that he was planning to sell the weapon.
In separate operations, the MIDC Bhosari and Chinchwad police detained two minors and seized two country-made pistols and three cartridges from them. One of the minors, detained by Chinchwad police, had allegedly procured the firearm from an individual in Sendhwa, located in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh. "The minor has disclosed the name of the supplier. Further investigation is underway," an officer from Chinchwad police said.
Externed Criminal Arrested
Meanwhile, the Shirgaon police on Tuesday arrested 22-year-old Ananta Sorte, a criminal on police records, from Darumbre village in Maval taluka. The police seized a country-made pistol and a cartridge from him. Sorte had been externed from Pune district and Khalapur taluka in Raigad district for two years in July last year, but violated the order and was found in possession of a firearm.
In another case, Bhosari police on Wednesday arrested a 20-year-old youth and recovered a country-made pistol along with a cartridge.
Smuggling Network Under Scrutiny
An officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch said that the firearms were primarily smuggled into the state from Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh. "We are following leads to identify and apprehend the middlemen involved in the smuggling network," the officer added.
