Punjab News Fake arms racket busted in Mansa

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Mansa, April 18:

A racket involving the sale of countrymade weapons under the name of reputed national and international brands has come to light here.

The police has rounded up a few suspects, including an arms dealer, and sealed a few shops too. Three countrymade pistols and revolvers, sold as original ones, have also been seized. According to the police, the matter came to light during a probe conducted into a case pertaining to the submission of fake documents for an arms licence. When the weapon for which the licence was sought was examined, it was found to be fake.

Subsequent investigation unravelled the involvement of a large number of arms dealers from Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country -- most of whom have gone underground -- in the racket. Sources said the accused arms dealers were operating in an organised manner by forming a gang. Their modus operandi included purchasing ‘kattas’ (countrymade pistols) from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and other parts of the country and then imprinting the logos of reputed brands on them.

While one wing of the dealers would do the purchasing, another used to imprint the names and number of various ordinance factories and international companies involved in the manufacturing of weapons. Once the exercise was over, yet another gang unit would dispose of the same to bonafide and other customers.

As per sources, the dealers used to procure a pistol at around Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 and further sell it at around Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The weapons were shown as made in China, Italy, USA, Japan and Webley Scott. The sale invoices were procured from two dealers based in Moga and Sirsa. While the owner of Moga-based armoury is bedridden, the other has gone underground. Confirming the incident, district police chief HS Mann has said investigation was on into the case.

 
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