Delhi Police busts inter-state illegal arms nexus, one arrested

New Delhi (IANS). The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a notorious illegal gun manufacturer and supplier with 10 high quality semi-automatic pistols. An official gave this information on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Malkhan Singh (39), a resident of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, whose illegal arms nexus was spread across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi.

The officer said a reward of Rs 50,000 was placed on information leading to his arrest.

Earlier, the Special Cell had arrested three persons in three separate operations. During interrogation, it was revealed that Malkhan Singh was the supplier of illegal weapons to them.

Special Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said, “Strong efforts were made to trace Malkhan Singh, but he was evading arrest. He was repeatedly changing his whereabouts and mobile number. It was learned that his nexus of procurement and supply of illegal arms and ammunition was spread across several states including Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

Following this, a police team was deployed to track and arrest him. Dhaliwal said, “On July 26, specific information was received regarding his activities. Accordingly, a raid was conducted near Lal Bagh in Dhar and Singh was apprehended.”

Singh’s interrogation revealed the extent of his criminal enterprise.

He was involved in manufacturing and supplying illegal pistols and ammunition from 2009-2010. Dhaliwal said, “Initially he produced the weapons himself, but later he started procuring them from local manufacturers in Dhar, Barwani and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The illegal weapons were then supplied to gunmen, who distributed them to criminal gangs in various states.”

The investigation after Singh’s arrest also threw light on the process of illegal arms manufacturing in Madhya Pradesh.

“After collecting the raw material and equipment, the illegal weapons were manufactured either at home or in remote areas of the forest,” said the Special CP.

The production of bullets involved the use of thin brass sheets sourced from Indore, and the shells were filled with matchstick-like material.

Dhaliwal said, “These illegal firearms were sold to local dealers at different prices – a .30 bore pistol was sold for Rs 18,000 to 20,000, a .32 bore pistol was sold for Rs 6,000 to 8,000, a . 315 bore pistol was sold for Rs 1,500 to 2,000, and a 9 mm pistol was sold for Rs 45,000 to 50,000.”

“Subsequently, the local dealers would distribute the illegal arms at very high prices to contacts in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,” the official said.