Illegal weapon trade flourishes, courtesy web-based apps

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 18

Criminals are using web-based smart apps to procure and smuggle firearms in various states and carry out targeted killings and other crimes, reveals an initial probe into the arrest of a Rajasthan-based weapon smuggler who was arrested around two weeks ago. He was trying to pass on a consignment of illegal arms to an unidentified person in Bathinda.

Almost 15 days after the police arrested weapon smuggler Tarun, a resident of Sriganganagar in Rajasthan, from Shambhu while on way to deliver a consignment; the cops are now probing his links with gangsters operating from foreign shores.

Police teams had seized four illegal pistols from his possession and the cops were now probing a “targeted killing at the behest of a Dubai-based gangster”. The police are also probing the role of a Bihar-based man who provided these weapons to Tarun.

“The weapons were to be delivered in Bathinda and grilling of the accused revealed that he was unaware of the person who was to be handed over those weapons,” said Patiala SP Yogesh Sharma. “We are trying to identify the Bihar-based man who supplied the arms to the accused and also the foreign network,” he added.

Sharma said Tarun was arrested in connection with an extortion case in Rajasthan along with his friends. “In the jail, he met Aarju Bishnoi, alias Navin. Two months ago, after Tarun got bail, he received an Instagram call from Navin. He asked him to contact a person in Begusarai (Bihar) on ‘Signal App’ and collect four weapons to be delivered in Bathinda where someone will call him on Signal and pay him Rs 1.5 lakh,” he said.

A senior IPS officer said the web-based apps made it tough for the police to locate the actual criminals. “In this case, we suspect the role of a Dubai-based criminal who is employing local criminals to commit specific crimes,” he added.

Information gathered from police officials probing various cases reveals that the illegal weapon manufacturing industry has now shifted from Uttar Pradesh and is operating through Madhya Pradesh now.

“From Rs 15,000 for a pistol, high-end weapons are available for gangsters for around Rs 50,000. The quality has improved and the semi-automatic pistols are available for Rs 60,000. Good quality bullets make these more lethal,” said an inspector probing the recent crimes where such weapons were used.

In March 2024, the State Special Operating Cell (SSOC), Mohali, had arrested four smugglers and seized nine .32 bore country-made pistols along with eight live cartridges from them.