In a significant crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, Khargone police arrested an arms supplier in Bhagwanpura area, seizing 10 country-made pistols and seven magazines. The operation was carried out based on a tip-off about a Sikligar community member preparing to transport and sell illegal firearms in the district.
Operation Details
Bhagwanpura police station in-charge Laxman Singh Lovanshi formed a special team after receiving intelligence on Friday. The team launched an operation near Piplya Bawdi Road, leading to the arrest of 21-year-old Rajpal Singh Sikligar, a resident of Navalpura village. A search of his bag revealed 10 country-made pistols loaded with magazines and seven additional magazines, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Ravindra Verma.
Interrogation and Source
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he had brought the firearms from Umarthi village under Warla police station limits in Barwani district. This revelation points to a possible network of illegal arms supply across districts in Madhya Pradesh.
Second Arrest in Mathura
In a separate incident on Friday, police arrested a 20-year-old man from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly transporting illegal firearms. Acting on a tip-off, a police team from Khaltaka outpost intercepted a bus traveling from Sendhwa towards Indore and detained the suspect, Sumit Panchal of Kotwan village, Mathura. During a search, police seized two country-made pistols along with an additional magazine, valued at approximately Rs 50,000. The accused reportedly has a prior criminal case in Haryana, indicating a multi-state criminal background.
Impact and Ongoing Investigations
These arrests highlight the persistent challenge of illegal arms trafficking in the region. SP Ravindra Verma stated that further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify other individuals involved. The seizure of 12 country-made pistols and eight magazines in two separate operations underscores the need for continued vigilance and intelligence-led policing.
