Illegal gun factory busted in Begusarai, Bihar; 3 arrested with arms cache
Synopsis
A joint police-SIT team dismantled a hidden gun factory in Begusarai, Bihar, arresting three men — including two weapon artisans from Munger, a district with a well-known illegal arms trail. The haul of pistols, live ammunition, and precision manufacturing tools points to an organised supply chain, not a one-off operation, with investigators now tracing which criminal gangs were being armed.
Key Takeaways
Security forces busted a clandestine gun factory in Barbighi Bahiyar, Begusarai on 18 July .
Three individuals were arrested, including alleged operator Baleshwar Mahto and two weapon artisans — Mohammad Asim alias Tarzan and Mohammad Shamshad — both from Munger district .
Seized items include two country-made pistols , five magazines , four live 7.65 mm cartridges , and multiple weapon-manufacturing tools.
The operation was conducted by a joint team under DSP Pankaj Kumar and DSP Sheikh Sabir , coordinated by the SIT and SOG/STAW-01 .
A case has been registered under the Arms Act ; investigators are tracing the criminal network supplied by the factory.
Further arrests are expected as the investigation into the arms supply chain widens.
A clandestine firearms manufacturing unit was dismantled by security forces on Saturday, 18 July in the Barbighi Bahiyar area under Baliya Police Station in Begusarai district, Bihar, with three individuals arrested red-handed — including the alleged operator of the factory and two skilled weapon artisans. The joint operation dealt a significant blow to what investigators believe was an active supply chain feeding criminal networks across the state.
How the Operation Unfolded
The raid was launched on the basis of precise technical and human intelligence developed by the SOG/STAW-01 team. Under the supervision of Senior Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pankaj Kumar and DSP Sheikh Sabir, a joint team comprising personnel from SOG-01, the Arms Cell, the Hit/SWAT Team from Jamalpur, SOG-03, Khagaria's Operation Team-12, and Baliya Police Station cordoned off the area, leaving the accused with no avenue of escape.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) coordinated the broader intelligence framework that made the surprise raid possible. Officials said the area was sealed before the team moved in, ensuring all three suspects were caught on the premises.
Weapons and Equipment Seized
A significant haul of illegal firearms, live ammunition, and weapon-manufacturing machinery was recovered from the makeshift factory. The seized items include:
Two country-made pistols, five magazines, four live 7.65 mm cartridges, two spent cartridge cases, two base machines used for shaping and finishing firearms, one hand drill machine, twelve metal files, three hammers, two hacksaw blades, one smartphone, ₹4,600 in cash, and one Apache motorcycle.
The variety of precision tools recovered suggests the unit was capable of producing functional weapons at scale, not merely assembling parts.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused have been identified as Mohammad Asim alias Tarzan, son of the late Md. Gulsher, a resident of Mirzapur Vardha village under Mufassil Police Station, Munger; Mohammad Shamshad, son of the late Md. Kamruddin, also of Mirzapur Vardha village, Munger; and Baleshwar Mahto, son of the late Harkhori Mahto, a resident of Barbighi village under Baliya Police Station, Begusarai.
The two artisans — Asim and Shamshad — hail from Munger district, which has a long-documented history as a hub for illegal firearms manufacturing in Bihar. Mahto is believed to have operated the local unit. All three were handed over to Baliya Police Station following completion of legal formalities.
Investigation and What Comes Next
A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway. Investigators are now focused on tracing the criminal backgrounds of the accused and mapping the distribution network — specifically, which districts in Bihar and which criminal gangs were receiving weapons produced at this factory.
Officials said further arrests are likely as the probe expands. This comes amid sustained state-level efforts to crack down on illegal arms supply chains that have historically fuelled gang violence and organised crime in Bihar's central and northern districts.
Point of View
But for where the artisans came from. Munger has for decades been synonymous with Bihar's shadow arms economy — the fact that two of the three arrested are Munger craftsmen suggests this was not an improvised local operation but a node in a wider manufacturing-and-distribution chain. The recovery of base machines and precision filing tools indicates production capacity, not mere assembly. What investigators now need to establish is the demand side: which gangs were ordering, and whether the network extends beyond Bihar. Until that mapping is done, the bust, while significant, is only the visible tip.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the illegal gun factory busted in Bihar?
The factory was located in the Barbighi Bahiyar area under Baliya Police Station in Begusarai district, Bihar. It was raided on 18 July by a joint team of police and the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Who were the three people arrested in the Begusarai arms factory raid?
The three arrested are Mohammad Asim alias Tarzan and Mohammad Shamshad — both weapon artisans from Mirzapur Vardha village in Munger district — and Baleshwar Mahto, a local resident from Barbighi village in Begusarai, who allegedly operated the unit.
What was recovered from the illegal gun factory in Begusarai?
Police seized two country-made pistols, five magazines, four live 7.65 mm cartridges, two spent cartridge cases, two base machines for shaping firearms, a hand drill, twelve metal files, three hammers, two hacksaw blades, a smartphone, ₹4,600 in cash, and an Apache motorcycle.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered against all three accused under the relevant provisions of the Arms Act. They were handed over to Baliya Police Station after legal formalities were completed, and further investigation is underway.
What is the significance of the accused coming from Munger district?
Munger has a long-documented history as a centre for illegal firearms manufacturing in Bihar. The involvement of two Munger artisans suggests the Begusarai unit was linked to an established production network, rather than being an isolated local operation.
