Police bust gun-running syndicate in NCR
In a significant operation aimed at curbing gun-running in the Delhi-NCR region, the police busted a syndicate and arrested 18 persons, including the gang leader, within the last month, officials said on Monday.
The police recovered four semi-automatic pistols, eight country-made pistols, also known as ‘desi katta’, 33 live cartridges, one country-made rifle, three knives and a stolen Hyundai i20 car.
The operation, named ‘Eagle’, was run by the anti-robbery and snatching cell, Crime Branch, under the supervision of Additional CP, Crime Branch, Sanjay Bhatia and DCP (Crime) Bhisham Singh.
The police received inputs regarding two alleged criminals —Arshad (22) and Mohd Suleman Ansari (22) — both residents of Ghazipur — who were planning to execute a robbery in Noida using illegal firearms and a stolen vehicle with a fake number plate.
A police team conducted a raid at the Ghazipur Paper Market while the alleged criminals were en route. An official said the person sitting in the front passenger seat pointed a gun at the team, but was overpowered. Both Suleman and Arshad were arrested, and a pistol, three live cartridges, three knives and the stolen car were recovered from their possession. The car was found to have been stolen from the Karol Bagh area.
During interrogation, they disclosed that they had purchased the illegal arms from Anuj, alias Moni (23), a resident of Patparganj village. The police later arrested Anuj.
The investigation further led to Arjun (25), who had provided the arms to Anuj. “Arjun was arrested from Kanawani, Makanpur village near Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. He further disclosed that he had provided illegal arms and ammunitions to several persons. At his instance, three more were arrested — Asif, alias Monu (26), Salman Ahmad, alias Raja (23), and Ajay, alias Tarun (23), all residents of East Delhi,” an official said.
“Ajay disclosed that he had supplied illegal weapons to Madan. After developing information, two persons — Rohit Baisla and Gaurav Bansal — were arrested and a semi-automatic pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from them,” the official said.
Arjun later disclosed that he also provided many illegal weapons to Shivam, alias Kallu, who was also arrested with one country-made pistol along with a live cartridge. He revealed that he gave a firearm to Vansh, alias Sunny.
“During further investigation, it was revealed that there is a gang known as ‘Madan gang’ that supplies illegal weapons in the Delhi-NCR. Shivam, Vansh, Madan, Chhotu Pandit, Ashu Gurjar, Abhay Yadav and Imam, alias Arman, all residents of UP, were the gang members,” a senior police official said.
Abhay Yadav and Iman were arrested along with firearms. Yadav disclosed that they had purchased arms from Deepak Furtila and sold them to Iman.
Two more accused — Harender, alias Harshana, and Akki, alias Nikhil — were arrested along with illegal firearms. Further investigation led to arrest of Ankit, alias Munna.
The police then learnt that Madan was lodged in Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad in a murder case in Tronica City and was the gang leader, operating it from within the jail premises. The police arrested him and seized a semi-automatic pistol and four live cartridges.
On his interrogation, raids were conducted at the residence of Deepak Furtila in Baghpat, UP, however, he was not found there.
“On November 4, Chetan Sharma (22), also a member of the group, went to Yamuna Khadar near Signature Bridge. Sharma was arrested along with a loaded country-made pistol and two live cartridges. He disclosed that he had received the firearm from Madan,” a police official said.
