ATS arrests Buldhana man with 2 pistols, 92 rounds in arms sting
Synopsis
Maharashtra ATS caught a 22-year-old Wardha man red-handed in Buldhana with two pistols and 92 live rounds — part of a widening crackdown that has already seen 57 people interrogated over alleged links to Pakistan-based gangster networks. Investigators suspect an interstate arms supply chain and say more arrests are imminent.
Key Takeaways
Shubham Pawar , 22 , of Wardha district was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS in Buldhana on 19 May .
Recovered items include two pistols , four magazines , and 92 live cartridges ; a four-wheeler was also seized.
The operation was conducted between 1:00 am and 1:30 am at Pimpri Koli village , Chikhli tehsil .
A case has been registered under the Arms Act at Raipur Police Station ; joint ATS-police probe is underway.
Investigators are examining possible interstate links ; more arrests are expected.
Earlier this month, the Maharashtra ATS interrogated 57 people in a separate sweep targeting alleged Pakistan-based gangster networks .
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra arrested a 22-year-old man in Buldhana district and seized two pistols, four magazines, and 92 live cartridges in a late-night operation, officials said. The accused, identified as Shubham Pawar, a resident of Wardha district, was apprehended after specific intelligence inputs flagged his alleged attempt to sell illegal firearms in the region.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on the tip-off, an ATS team laid a trap at Pimpri Koli village, under the limits of Raipur Police Station in Chikhli tehsil. The interception took place between approximately 1:00 am and 1:30 am, when Pawar had reportedly arrived at a relative's residence in the village. ATS personnel apprehended him on the spot as soon as he reached the location.
A search of the accused yielded two pistols, four magazines, and 92 live cartridges. A four-wheeler vehicle used in the operation was also seized. Preliminary information suggests Pawar was en route to deliver the weapons for sale when he was intercepted.
Case Registered, Probe Underway
A case has been registered at Raipur Police Station under relevant sections of the Arms Act. A joint investigation by the ATS and local police is now underway to trace the source of the weapons and identify others possibly linked to the racket. Authorities have indicated that more arrests are likely as the probe advances, with investigators examining possible interstate links to the illegal arms supply chain.
Broader Crackdown Context
The Buldhana operation is not an isolated action. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra ATS interrogated 57 people across the state as part of a major sweep targeting individuals allegedly linked to or associated with Pakistan-based gangster networks, including the Shahzad Bhatti gang and the Dogra gang, according to officials. Coordinated ATS raids were conducted across multiple locations — Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nalasopara, Mira Road, Akola, Nanded, Nashik, and Jalgaon.
That operation was described as part of a larger effort to dismantle alleged gangster-linked networks operating within Maharashtra and identify individuals suspected of maintaining direct or indirect connections with the gangs. The latest Buldhana arrest reinforces concerns about an organised illegal arms supply network operating across the state.
What Comes Next
Investigators are expected to widen the net as forensic and intelligence analysis of the seized weapons continues. The ATS has not ruled out links between the Buldhana racket and the broader interstate arms supply chains already under scrutiny. The district administration has been placed on alert as the probe progresses.
Point of View
Not a standalone bust. Maharashtra ATS has been systematically working up a chain — from street-level carriers like Pawar to the Pakistan-linked networks interrogated earlier this month. What the sequence reveals is a supply-side problem: illegal firearms are moving across state lines with apparent ease, and a 22-year-old from Wardha acting as a delivery agent suggests the bottom of the network is being recruited from economically vulnerable demographics. The real test of this crackdown is whether investigators can convert seizures and interrogations into prosecutions that reach the top of the supply chain — something Indian arms-trafficking cases have historically struggled to do.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS in Buldhana?
The arrested accused is Shubham Pawar , a 22-year-old resident of Wardha district in Maharashtra. He was apprehended at Pimpri Koli village in Buldhana's Chikhli tehsil on 19 May while allegedly attempting to deliver illegal firearms for sale.
What weapons were recovered from Shubham Pawar?
ATS personnel recovered two pistols , four magazines , and 92 live cartridges from Pawar's possession. A four-wheeler vehicle used in the operation was also seized.
What case has been registered and where?
A case has been registered at Raipur Police Station in Chikhli tehsil under relevant sections of the Arms Act . A joint investigation by the ATS and local police is currently underway.
Is this Buldhana arrest linked to earlier Maharashtra ATS operations?
Officials have not confirmed a direct link, but the arrest fits a broader pattern. Earlier in May, the Maharashtra ATS interrogated 57 people across the state in a sweep targeting alleged associates of Pakistan-based gangster networks , including the Shahzad Bhatti and Dogra gangs. Investigators are examining possible interstate connections.
Are more arrests expected in this case?
Yes, authorities have indicated that more arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. Investigators are tracing the source of the seized weapons and probing potential interstate links in the illegal arms supply chain.
