Two IT experts nabbed for manufacturing firearms

Tribune News Service

Batala, April 3

The local police today arrested two computer experts, who combined their ‘talents’ to manufacture firearms of various kinds. The police had been on their trail for quite some time. The accused have been identified as Rajan Sharma, who runs a laptop repair shop in the Sitla Mandir locality, and Pritpal Singh, who operates a computer hardware shop nearby.

The accused would get information on manufacturing firearms from various Internet sites. The police recovered three .32-bore pistols, three .12-bore pistols, an airgun with a telescope mounted on it, several drill and grinder machines and toolkits.

The SSP, Opinderjit Singh Ghuman, said a case under the Arms Act was registered at the City police station. “We are questioning both Pritpal and Rajan. We have learnt that whatever arms they had produced was just a precursor to a larger design wherein they were all set to manufacture more sophisticated weapons. They had also made arrangements to sell their products in the open market. We will produce them in court tomorrow and will seek their police remand,” said the SSP.

The DSP (City), Dr BK Singla, was a key member of the team formed by the SSP to arrest the accused.

A police officer, who is also part of the investigating team, claimed that the accused used to see videos like “Three important steps of gun manufacturing”, “How to make a homemade gun”, “Gun making, lock, stock and barrel” and “How to make a powerful gun”.

Rajan would share information on making guns with Pritpal, who used to give it a practical shape in his hardware store. The SSP said once a weapon was assembled, the accused would scout for an open space on the outskirts of the city where they would ‘test’ their weapons.