2 brandish illegal firearms on social media, arrested

The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the North District Police arrested two youths (both aged 18) for flaunting country-made pistols on social media platforms to gain popularity, it said on Friday.

On October 29, Head Constable Manoj Kumar received information that a youth who had uploaded videos posing with a pistol would arrive near Inderlok Metro station to commit a crime. A police team led by Inspector Ishvar Singh and supervised by ACP Anil Sharma laid a trap at the location. Around 11:40 pm, they apprehended a suspect, Ankush (18) of Nai Basti, Pratap Nagar, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia.

The police recovered a country-made pistol and two live cartridges from his possession. A case under the Arms Act was registered.

In another operation on the same day, HC Rajender Lathar received a tip-off about another youth, Nikhil, alias Kattapa (18), a resident of Khema Katra, Kishan Ganj, who had also been posting similar videos online. Acting swiftly, a team led by Inspector Ishvar Singh apprehended Nikhil near Godown No. 13, Kishan Ganj Railway Station, at about 11:50 p.m. A country-made pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from him. A case has been registered.