New Delhi police have dismantled an interstate arms smuggling ring with the arrest of eight individuals, including the alleged kingpin, and the seizure of 18 illegal firearms, associated magazines, and live cartridges. The operation, conducted by the Special Cell of Delhi Police, targeted a syndicate that sourced weapons from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for distribution among criminals in the Delhi-NCR and surrounding regions.
The Chenab Times has learned that the arrested suspects are accused of facilitating the movement of sophisticated semi-automatic pistols and country-made firearms. Authorities stated that the syndicate employed advanced communication methods, including encrypted social media applications, virtual phone numbers, and fake online identities, to evade detection and coordinate their illegal activities.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Harish Chandra, 24; Pritpal Singh, 24; Shishpal Singh, also known as Yash Chaudhary, 26; Kuldeep Sagar, 20; Agesh Kumar, 25; Noor Mohammed, also known as Taslim, 36; Mohammed Shan, 19; and Vikram Singh, 36. The police operation was initiated based on specific intelligence gathered over several weeks concerning the inflow of illicit weapons into the Delhi National Capital Region.
During the course of the operation, police recovered a significant cache of weapons, including 12 semi-automatic pistols, five country-made pistols, and one revolver. Additionally, 10 spare magazines, five live 9 mm prohibited cartridges, one live cartridge, and an iron sickle were seized from the accused. The investigation into the syndicate’s operations commenced on July 5 when Harish Chandra was apprehended with eight semi-automatic pistols and eight magazines, allegedly smuggled from Madhya Pradesh.
Interrogation of Harish Chandra revealed his involvement, along with his brother, in transporting illegal firearms under the direction of the syndicate’s alleged leader, Shishpal Singh. Acting on this information, police apprehended Pritpal Singh and subsequently located and arrested Shishpal Singh in Ballabhgarh, Haryana. A pistol was recovered from his rented accommodation.
According to police investigators, Shishpal Singh had allegedly been engaged in the illegal arms trade for approximately three years. He is believed to have established a widespread network comprising suppliers, couriers, and traffickers operating across multiple states. Following his arrest, further raids led to the apprehension of Kuldeep Sagar and Agesh Kumar. Subsequent searches at the residence of an absconding accused, identified as Ganesh alias Lucky, resulted in the recovery of another pistol.
On July 14, Noor Mohammed alias Taslim and Mohammed Shan were arrested, leading to the recovery of four country-made pistols, one semi-automatic pistol, and one revolver. The following day, Vikram Singh was arrested, and five live 9 mm cartridges were seized from his premises. Police indicated that the syndicate allegedly procured its sophisticated pistols from Madhya Pradesh and country-made firearms from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. These weapons were reportedly transported to and stored at various locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the Delhi-NCR for subsequent distribution.
Authorities noted that Noor Mohammed has a prior record with 12 criminal cases registered against him, while Mohammed Shan had previously been arrested in six cases. The ongoing investigation aims to trace the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and identify all individuals involved in the illegal firearms trade.
The Chenab Times News Desk