Police seize large cache of arms, ammunitions from smugglers in Balotra

Jaisalmer: In one of the largest operations against arms smuggling, Balotra police on Saturday arrested five people, including a minor and seized 11 illegal country-made pistols, 17 magazines, and 15 live cartridges. Balotra SP Hari Shankar said that the police team detained the suspects.

When asked about their attempts to flee, Shankar said one individual admitted to carrying illegal arms in his handbag and identified himself as Ganpat Singh, aged 22, from Sedwa police station in Barmer district.

While searching for Ganpat Singh's handbag, police found 6 country-made pistols, 11 empty magazines, and 11 live cartridges. The second suspect was found in possession of 1 illegal pistol with a magazine concealed in his belt. When asked to produce licenses or permits for the arms, neither could provide any documentation, said the SP.

Ganpat Singh and the juvenile were then taken into custody, with the arms and ammunition seized.

Later in the day, three others in the case were also arrested. A case under the Arms Act was filed, and interrogation is underway to ascertain details regarding the sourcing and distribution of the weapons as well as possible involvement of others.

Fleshing out details of the operation, the SP said that the Balotra district special team received a tip-off from Mohanlal Kani, DCRB, stating that two individuals were travelling from Madhya Pradesh to supply illegal arms in the district, bringing a considerable quantity of illicit weapons from Jodhpur to Kalyanpur.

According to the police, the arms were intended for supply to narcotics and liquor traffickers. Upon confirmation of the intelligence, the team searched for suspects in Kalyanpur town and the vicinity of Rawli Hotel, where two suspicious persons were detected. On seeing the police, they attempted to escape.

The SP further said that Ganpat Singh and the juvenile were in touch with the inter-state arms traffickers from Madhya Pradesh for procurement of illegal weapons, which were intended to supply to narcotics and liquor traffickers in the state.

Balotra SP said that following the guidance of Jodhpur range IG Vikas Kumar a special drive under "Operation Vajra Prahar" was initiated to curb arms smuggling and enforce strong legal measures against illegal arms traffickers.