Anantapur police nab 6 members of gang involved in illegal arms trade; seized 18 weapons

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh police achieved a major breakthrough and busted a six-member gang involved in fake currency scam, ganja smuggling, and illegal arms trade. They seized 18 weapons, 95 live rounds of ammunition, and six extra magazines. The arrests were made by the special operation teams of the Anantapur district police.

According to a release issued by the Andhra Pradesh director-general of police K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, the Anantapur police busted a well-organised network of rowdy sheeters-cum-hired killers of Bangalore city with a connection to fake Indian currency note (FICN) manufacturers based out of Bellary and Ananthapuram. The police caught six accused who had cases registered in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa.

"In order to run their illegal activities unhindered, the Bangalore-based rowdy sheeters are procuring ganja from Shirpur of Maharashtra state and small arms from illegal manufacturing hubs of Madhya Pradesh," said the DGP.

The special operation team of Anantapur raided an illegal arms manufacturing unit owned by Rajpal Singh at Umarti in Barwani district and arrested Singh who is an arms manufacturer and dealer-cum-distributor and another person, Nannu Suthar Adivasi, who is a supplier of arms. Among the 18 weapons seized was a sophisticated semi-automatic Beretta.

During the preliminary investigation, it was found that the accused are involved in gang rivalries, hired killings, and extortion activities in Bangalore city limits by illegally procuring firearms. It was also found that Rajpal Singh had supplied hundreds of weapons to various parts of the country.

An investigation is on to unearth the network of illegal arms trade. The DGP has announced a Rs. 25,000 cash reward to the Anantapuram special team.

Weapons seized

Beretta, 9mm Semi-automatic pistol with 15 rounds

9 mm pistols- 3 with 15 rounds

0.32 mm pistols- 11 with 63 rounds

Revolver- 1

Tapancha - 2 with two rounds