The Delhi Police’s Special Cell has successfully dismantled an interstate gunrunning racket with the arrest of eight individuals, including the alleged kingpin. Authorities recovered a significant cache of 18 illegal firearms, along with additional magazines and live cartridges, following a meticulous operation that spanned several weeks.
Interstate Syndicate Uncovered
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the apprehended suspects were an integral part of a wider syndicate responsible for procuring sophisticated semi-automatic pistols and country-made firearms. These weapons were reportedly sourced from the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and subsequently distributed to criminal elements operating within the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjoining territories.
The modus operandi of the syndicate involved sophisticated methods to evade detection. Police reports suggest that encrypted social media applications, virtual phone numbers, and fabricated online identities were routinely employed to coordinate activities between suppliers, traffickers, and end-users, thereby obfuscating the identities of all involved parties.
Key Arrests and Recoveries
The arrested individuals have been identified by the police as Harish Chandra (24), Pritpal Singh (24), Shishpal Singh alias Yash Chaudhary (26), Kuldeep Sagar (20), Agesh Kumar (25), Noor Mohammed alias Taslim (36), Mohammed Shan (19), and Vikram Singh (36). The operation was initiated based on specific intelligence gathered over an extended period concerning the movement of illicit weapons into the Delhi-NCR region.
During the course of the operation, law enforcement officials seized a total of 12 semi-automatic pistols, five country-made firearms, and one revolver. In addition to the firearms, the recovery also included 10 spare magazines, five live 9 mm prohibited cartridges, one additional live cartridge, and an iron sickle, which was found in the possession of one of the accused.
Investigation Unravels Syndicate Details
The investigation into the network commenced on July 5, with the initial apprehension of Harish Chandra, who was found in possession of eight semi-automatic pistols and eight magazines. He allegedly admitted to having obtained these weapons through smuggling from Madhya Pradesh.
During interrogation, Harish Chandra provided crucial details, implicating his brother and identifying the syndicate’s alleged kingpin, Shishpal Singh, as the orchestrator of the illegal arms transport. This disclosure led to the subsequent arrest of Pritpal Singh. Further investigation traced and apprehended Shishpal Singh from Ballabhgarh in Haryana, where an illegal pistol was recovered from his rented accommodation.
According to police statements, Shishpal Singh had been active in the illegal arms trade for approximately three years, cultivating an extensive network that encompassed suppliers, couriers, and traffickers operating across multiple states. His arrest marked a significant breakthrough in unraveling the syndicate’s structure.
Subsequent raids conducted as part of the ongoing operation led to the arrests of Kuldeep Sagar and Agesh Kumar. Further searches at various locations resulted in the recovery of an additional pistol from the residence of a wanted accused identified as Ganesh alias Lucky, who remains at large.
On July 14, the Special Cell arrested Noor Mohammed alias Taslim and Mohammed Shan. From their possession, law enforcement recovered four country-made pistols, one semi-automatic pistol, and one revolver. The following day, Vikram Singh was taken into custody, and five live 9 mm cartridges were seized from his residence.
The syndicate reportedly procured its sophisticated pistol consignments from Madhya Pradesh, while the country-made firearms were allegedly sourced from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. These weapons were then transported and stored at various undisclosed locations within Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the Delhi-NCR for subsequent distribution to criminal networks.
Further investigation revealed that Noor Mohammed has a prior criminal record with involvement in 12 cases, while Mohammed Shan has been previously arrested in six criminal cases, underscoring the hardened nature of the individuals involved in this operation.
The Chenab Times News Desk