ALLAHABAD: The Special Task Force (Allahabad unit) claimed to have busted an inter-state arms’ smuggling racket and arrested four key members of the gang, near Subedarganj, Railway Bridge Road while plotting to dispose of weapons. All the four arrested arms are between age group of 20-26 years.
The police have also recovered four 0.32 bore pistols (USA made), two pistols of 0.9 mm , two pistols of 0.315 bore and several live magazines and cartridges of all bores along with firearms manufacturing apparatus from their possession.
The arrested persons were identified as brothers, Nahid and Rashid Ali of Pratapgarh, Ashutosh Dubey of Amethi and Mohd Ahmed of Jaunpur.
Deputy SP (STF) Pravin Singh Chauhan told TOI that the firearms were smuggled from Munger (Bihar) and Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh) and that they have confessed of selling more than 150 weapons in different parts of Delhi, MP and UP during the past two years. Singh further maintained that the smugglers prefer to bring USA made pistols as these weapons were sold among outlaws on higher rates. A fine shaped pistol is usually sold at a cost of Rs 30,000 after being purchased on Rs 20,000.
Singh also maintained that these smugglers used to visit different cities where there is high demand and a wide network among outlaws. While Ashutosh Dubey was a graduate from city, Rashid Ali was pursuing management course.
Police said, “All the four smugglers had jumped into the crime world to lead a lavish lifestyle”. They kept on visiting cities to deliver the consignments after taking it from Munger and Khandwa.
