Ahmedabad, July 8 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old illegal arms supplier and seized six country-made firearms along with 21 live cartridges during a special drive launched ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra to prevent the circulation of illegal weapons in the city.
The accused, identified as Karansinh alias Kanchido Solanki, a resident of Hathipura village in Detroj taluka of Ahmedabad district, was apprehended from beneath Zundal Bridge on S.P. Ring Road following specific intelligence received by Crime Branch personnel while they were on patrol.
Police said they recovered four country-made revolvers, one additional country-made pistol, one country-made 12-bore firearm and 21 cartridges from his possession.
The seized weapons and ammunition were valued at Rs 82,100. Officers also recovered a mobile phone worth Rs 6,000 and a black bag worth Rs 200, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 88,300.
A case has been registered at the Crime Branch under Sections 25(1-B)(A) and 29 of the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been engaged in the illegal sale of firearms and had previously been arrested in arms-related cases by Detroj Police Station.
According to investigators, he told police that he had procured the weapons from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and intended to sell them in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana district.
The Crime Branch said its investigation has revealed that the accused had links with bootleggers, bookies and other persons involved in criminal activities in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana.
Police alleged that he would identify potential buyers, procure country-made firearms from Madhya Pradesh and supply them to criminal elements in the region.
Investigators further said the accused had allegedly been involved in the illegal firearms trade for the past one-and-a-half to two years.
“Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana police had previously arrested several individuals who had allegedly purchased weapons from him,” officials said.
After securing bail in earlier cases, the accused is alleged to have travelled to Gwalior again to procure more firearms.
Police are now investigating the intended recipients of the seized weapons and the purpose for which they were allegedly being transported.
The accused has a criminal record spanning several years.
Police records show he has previously been booked in cases involving offences under the Indian Penal Code, the Prohibition Act, the Gujarat Police Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and multiple cases under the Arms Act registered at Detroj, Becharaji and Kadi police stations.
The Crime Branch said the investigation is continuing to identify any wider network involved in the procurement and distribution of illegal firearms.
–IANS
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