New Delhi : A team of Special Cell led by Inspectors Vivekanand Pathak and Kuldeep Singh, under the supervision of Shri Manoj Dixit, ACP/NR, has busted an interstate gun running racket with the arrest of two gun runners namely Pawan Singh and Chandar Singh @ Chandan Singh @ Satnam Singh, both residents of District Dhar, MP from the Service Road of Jheel Wala Park, Sector-3, Rohini, Delhi. A total of 30 illegal semi automatic pistols have been recovered from their possession.
In view of recent criminal activities involving the use of firearms, the Special Cell of Delhi Police launched a special drive against suppliers and peddlers of illegal firearms in Delhi. Many syndicates of illegal firearm suppliers are under watch. Continuing technical and human surveillance indicates that illegal weapons are mainly being pumped into Delhi from the areas of Munger of Bihar and Khargone, Dhar & Burhanpur of MP. Concerted efforts made in this regard yielded results in the busting of several such interstate firearm syndicates. Special Cell has so far arrested several modules/kingpins and seized a huge quantity of sophisticated/semi- automatic weapons since January 2019. The team involved in the current operation had earlier busted an illegal arms syndicate in the month of March this year by arresting 02 persons namely Amrikan and Sheetal Singh from whom 52 sophisticated pistols were recovered. Of the arrested accused, Pawan Singh is an actual manufacturer of the consignment of the seized weapons.
OPERATION
On 18.6.019, a tip off was received that a huge consignment of illegal arms would exchange hands of near Jheel Wala Park, Sector-3, Rohini, Delhi in early morning hours. Accordingly, a raiding team was formed which rushed to Service road near Jheel Wala Park, Sector-3, Rohini, Delhi where both above mentioned accused persons were spotted waiting for someone. Police team also waited for the prospective buyer to turn up. After waiting for some time, the criminals grew suspicious of police presence and when they were about to move, were swiftly apprehended. A total of 30 illegal pistols were recovered from their possession. A case under appropriate sections of law has been registered at PS Special Cell, Delhi in this regard.
INTERROGATION
Both the arrested accused persons were subjected to sustained interrogated wherein they disclosed that the trade in illicit firearms has been inherited by them as a hereditary occupation and they have been involved in the same for over 10 years. They had learnt the skill of manufacturing firearms from their immediate society as it has been a running profitable business with over 80 years vintage. Presently, their family members manufacture illegal arms at a cottage industry and they are supplied in various parts of the country including Delhi. Accused Pawan disclosed that he has been sending consignments of illegal arms to criminal gangs operating out of Delhi, UP, Haryana, MP etc. through his various courier chains.

Accused Pawan, during interrogation, disclosed the entire process of manufacturing an illicit firearm. He uses iron scrap and other materials to prepare .32 bore semi automatic pistols. To set up a cottege industry, all that is required is a furnace with a fan, some brass metal rods, iron plates,
cycle frame/rods, spring made from iron wire/line taken out from tyres of heavy vehicles and a lathe machine and filers of different numbers to smoothen the assembled parts of the pistol. Accused Pawan has expertise in using bicycle frame for fabricating the weapon. The spring for slide and magazine is prepared from iron wire drawn from tyres of heavy vehicles while the trigger and hammer are prepared out of thick and hard iron drawn from the shaft of scarped vehicles. Lastly, when all the parts get assembled, lathe machine and filers are used to give it a smooth final touch.

The whole process costs around Rs. 7,000/- and one finished pistol eventually gets sold for about Rs. 25,000/- in cash. Accused Pawan also disclosed that in order to avoid detection, he has been using a temporary shed erected in a deep forest on a hill near his village for his assembly and finishing works.
Accused Pawan Singh has been found previously involved in 05 cases of Arms Act in MP. Accused Chandan Singh has been also found previously involved in a case of assault on police party in MP.
The arrested accuseds have been taken on PC Remand and efforts are being made to seize and bust the entire network and associated infrastructure. Further investigation is in progress.



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