Ghazipur – A coordinated raid by the district’s SWAT team and Kotwali police resulted in the detention of three local men accused of transporting a sizable batch of illegal firearms into the city.
Large‑Scale Arms Confiscation
Authorities acted near Kaithwalia Pulia and uncovered a stockpile of 38 weapons, consisting of 19 pistols, 19 locally‑manufactured guns and 18 cartridges. The seizure also yielded three mobile phones, a motorcycle and a modest cash amount of ₹900.
Suspects Trapped While Attempting to Flee
Following a tip about an imminent weapons hand‑over, SWAT commander Shailendra Pratap Singh and Crime Inspector Devendra Kumar Mishra sealed off the area. When the three riders on a motorcycle sensed surveillance, they tried to escape, but the rapid‑response unit had already surrounded them, leading to a peaceful surrender.
Additional Leads and Ongoing Operations
All three detainees are Ghazipur residents believed to be part of an interstate smuggling ring sourcing arms from Khandwa and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. Interrogations revealed two more accomplices, prompting police raids in nearby villages to apprehend the remaining members and dismantle the larger network.
The arrests form part of a district‑wide crackdown on unregistered weapons, ordered by the police chief to stem the flow of illicit arms across state boundaries.
