Inter-state arms smuggler arrested, 24 guns recovered

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Special Cell, Southern Range, has busted an inter-state gun running racket by arresting notorious arms supplier Vinod Kumar, 40 years, a resident of Shikohabad of district Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh.

As many as 19 sophisticated pistols, five semi-assembled pistols and 20 live cartridges were recovered from his possession at the time of his arrest near Sidhartha Enclave, Ashram Chowk on February 28.

Sleuths of Special Cell, Southern Range, were receiving information about illegal activities of the arms syndicate led by Vinod of Shikohabad.

Manual surveillance was mounted to develop information about Vinod and members of his syndicate. Teams were sent to Burhanpur, Sagar and Khargone districts in Madhya Pradesh to track the movements of members of this syndicate by Delhi Police.

Specific inputs were received that Kumar – who used to procured illegal arms and ammunition from Burhanpur and supplied them weapons to Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – had received a big consignment of pistols.

He was on his way to Delhi to deliver this consignment of weapons to criminals in Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Informer also told the cops that Vinod has fixed rendezvous in front of Sidharhta Enclave, near Ashram Chowk, Delhi between 3 and 4 pm. He was arrested from there.

Kumar was subjected to sustained interrogation. He disclosed that he used to receive supply of pistols from a person belonging to Burhanpur.

Vinod also told that the man was engaged in manufacturing of illegal weapons in Burhanpur and further supplying them in Delhi and adjoining states.

Vinod also disclosed that he came in contact with the arms manufacturer through a person who is resident of Shikohabad.

Vinod joined him in the illegal trade of supplying arms from MP to Delhi, UP and Haryana about 15 years ago.

Since then, Vinod has been indulging in arms smuggling. He had supplied more than 500 pistols to various criminals in different states.

He revealed that he purchased a pistol for Rs 10,000 from the suppliers in Madhya Pradesh.