Cops bust another gun-running racket

[m24]

Source: Times of India

In the fifth major haul this year by Delhi Police - and the third by the crime branch - another gun-running racket with its base in UP and Bihar and market in Delhi has been unearthed. "Unlike the other consignments, this gang used to deal only with sophisticated semi-automatic weapons. Though the pistols carry marks claiming that they have been manufactured in Italy and England, all the five revolvers recovered have been traced to Munger district of Bihar," said DCP (crime) Ashok Chand. The gang has been operating for the past four years.

The arrested person has been identified as a 23-year-old carpenter, who allegedly used to supply illegal firearms to local criminals. Mohammad Qasif (23), from Meerut in UP, was apprehended from Rohini Sector-3 on Sunday, Chand, said.

According to the Special Investigations Team (SIT) of the crime branch led by Additional DCP Joy Tirkey, each pistol was sold with a magazine while another was provided "free". The bullets though, costing between Rs 75 and Rs 90, had to be procured separately.

"Each of the pistols was bought for Rs 12,000-15,000; was of the 7.65mm make; and can fire 10 rounds at one go, much more than that of an ordinary policeman (except those in crime branch, the special cell, UP ATS and UP STF) of Delhi or UP police can fire in one round. These are brought to Meerut where the Delhi criminals contacted them and fixed a place for the handover. In Bihar, most criminals borrow weapons from each other. The paying capacity is also low. Hence Delhi, where each criminal aspires for a weapon, is an important destination where these machines are sold at Rs 40,000 each. In Meerut, the rate varies between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000," said an officer.

Five sophisticated 7.65mm pistols, magazines and cartridges seized allegedly from Qasif. Qasif told police that he has been a part of gun-running racket for the past three years and was introduced to the racket by one Mohammad Hanif who is absconding. "Hanif procured the weapons from Munger in Bihar and brought it to Meerut in a specially designed car. The fuel tank of the Ambassador car was modified to keep the weapons safely hidden inside it," Chand said, adding no highway patrols checked the fuel tank. The cops are yet to recover the Ambassador car too.

Qasif was earlier arrested in 2010 for running another gun racket and at that time four pistols had been recovered from him. On his release on bail, he also started his operations in Delhi. The cops are now investigating the list of criminals from NCR who procured the weapons from these men.

Regards

[cottage cheese]

...what is amusing is the generous use of the word "sophisticated"...just to sex up the importance of the haul...perhaps at great risk to the cops life and limb....

[m24]

I guess we are living in 'sophisticated' times, hence the reference.

Regards

[OverUnderPump]

"Each of the pistols was bought for Rs 12,000-15,000; was of the 7.65mm make; and can fire 10 rounds at one go, much more than that of an ordinary policeman (except those in crime branch, the special cell, UP ATS and UP STF) of Delhi or UP police can fire in one round.

Much more than the policeman can fire in one round LMAO . I just fell of my chair after spilling my morning coffee on the keyboard. Thanks for posting this m24, it just made my day.

regards

OUP

[cottage cheese]

Much more than the policeman can fire in one round LMAO . I just fell of my chair after spilling my morning coffee on the keyboard. Thanks for posting this m24, it just made my day.

...Just shows what dullards we have as cops.

also OUP... why should it make your day? .... with the reluctance of the establishment acknowledge your right to self protection and leaving our well-being and safety in the hands of simpletons like these, I shudder...

regards,
cc

[OverUnderPump]

Its all good CC I wasn't laughing at out plight I was amused by this piece:

much more than that of an ordinary policeman of Delhi or UP police can fire in one round.

Its a shame I and many others can only fire one bullet in one round . Or maybe the journo meant 'Magazine' or 'Clip' or worse 'Round' could mean the 'Cylinder' of a revolver.

We just wont ever really know will we, ah Journos and Guns. Bliss.

regards

OUP