Bhopal/Pune, Nov 22 (NationPress) In a meticulously planned early morning operation across two states, law enforcement from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra dismantled a significant illegal arms manufacturing network concealed within the wooded hills of Umarti village in Barwani district.

Over 250 police personnel, including members of the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), raided four covert factories at 4 a.m. on Saturday, confiscating equipment capable of producing more than 500 unlicensed pistols and apprehending 47 individuals, among whom are seven key suspects transferred to Maharashtra authorities. Nearly all of the detainees have prior criminal records.

The operation, spearheaded by Barwani Superintendent of Police Jagdish Dawar (IPS) and Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Dr. Somay Munde (IPS), was supported by teams from the Pune Police's crime branch, Barwani, Khargone, and Khandwa police, along with ATS experts in wireless communications, drone surveillance, and cyber forensics.

"This represents the largest intervention against an illegal arms smuggling ring we've encountered," Dawar told reporters, attributing the successful operation to weeks of covert surveillance initiated by local reports of suspicious activity. The rugged and forested landscape had long provided cover for the operation, enabling it to distribute weapons across state lines under the guise of rural anonymity.

The bust followed a recent weapons seizure in Pune, Maharashtra, where interrogations and technical leads directed investigators to Umarti as the primary hub. "With credible intelligence from Pune, we executed this joint operation," remarked Sendhwa Sub-Divisional Officer Ajay Waghmare.

Authorities recovered an extensive arsenal: semi-finished pistols, .32-bore firearms, manufacturing equipment, lathes, drilling machines, and essential materials like metal barrels and firing pins. The presence of unfinished weapons at the sites highlighted the factory's industrial scale, capable of supplying criminal gangs for an extended period.

Initial investigations indicate the involvement of an organized gang, likely comprising over 20 households in the 80-home village, many from the local Sikhligar community, which has a history of such illicit activities. Seized mobile phones, documents, and call records suggest a supply chain extending to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and urban Maharashtra, reminiscent of previous busts in the region.

"We’re tracing the network’s connections; more arrests are on the horizon," Dawar added, noting that forensic analysis will elucidate distribution routes and forthcoming details regarding their motivations will be provided soon.

This operation marks the third significant inter-state arms raid in Barwani since 2023, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in dismantling rural manufacturing hubs. Previous seizures, like the Anantapur Police’s 2023 discovery of nine units, resulted in the confiscation of dozens of pistols and ammunition, often linked to drug and counterfeit currency operations.

Experts caution that economic hardship in tribal areas exacerbates these enterprises, with weapons fetching Rs 20,000–50,000 each on the black market.

Pune Joint Commissioner Ranjan Kumar Sharma commended the coordination: "A 105-member team executed this operation flawlessly, dismantling the factories on-site."

Among those detained, both locals and migrant workers face charges under the Arms Act and IPC sections for conspiracy. Maharashtra Police, leading the investigation, suspect connections to urban gangs amidst rising firearm-related crimes in Pune.

As special teams search along the Narmada River borders for fleeing suspects, authorities pledge enhanced patrols. "This disrupts a crucial artery for illegal arms; vigilance will prevent a resurgence," Munde stressed.

The raid not only averts potential violence but signals a strong federal initiative against organized crime in India’s heartland, where porous terrains foster shadows of illegality.