Was a Mini Gun Factory Uncovered in Bhagalpur, Bihar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, Feb 18 (NationPress) In a combined operation, the Kolkata Police STF, Bihar STF, and Madhusudanpur Police Station have discovered an operational illegal improvised firearms manufacturing facility located in Rahamatbagh village, within Bihar's Bhagalpur district.
The raid targeted the residence of Md. Nasir Ansari, the son of Md. Gaju Salahuddin Ansari, late Tuesday night.
The suspects were running the illegal arms production unit on the ground floor of their home, disguised as a spinning mill.
During the operation, authorities apprehended five individuals, including a co-owner and four skilled firearms manufacturers.
The joint team seized 20 semi-finished country-made 7.65 mm pistols, eight pistol barrels, one lathe machine, two milling machines, one drilling machine, one grinding-polishing machine, one hand grinder, along with a considerable amount of tools and raw materials utilized in firearm production.
The suspects were identified as Md. Monazir (21), son of Md. Anwar, residing in Nathnagar in Bhagalpur.
The additional individuals arrested include Md. Shadab Ali alias Saddam (32), son of Md. Sahabuddin, Md. Aslam alias Tinku (41), son of Md. Nayeem Ansari, Md. Samsher Alam alias Chotu (36), son of Md. Sameer, and Md. Shahanawaz (25), son of the late Naimuddin, all from Munger district and skilled in arms manufacturing. Some suspects managed to escape before the raid.
The Bhagalpur Police are conducting additional raids to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
Following the arrests, the Bhagalpur Police filed an FIR under the Arms Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Madhusudanpur police station.
Sources indicate that the operation was initiated after the West Bengal STF received intelligence regarding the illegal firearms manufacturing unit in Bhagalpur.
This information was shared with the Bhagalpur Police, resulting in the coordinated raid.
Initial investigations imply that the arrested individuals were manufacturing country-made firearms intended for supply to criminals in West Bengal.
With the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, security agencies are on heightened alert to thwart the distribution of illegal weapons.