Ghazipur – A coordinated operation by the district’s SWAT team and Kotwali police resulted in the detention of three local men suspected of transporting a sizable consignment of illegal weapons into the city.
Large‑Scale Arms Confiscation
The raid took place close to Kaithwalia Pulia, where officers uncovered a stash of 38 firearms: 19 pistols, 19 country‑manufactured rifles and 18 cartridges. In addition, the squad seized three mobile phones, a motorcycle and a modest sum of ₹900 in cash.
Suspects Trapped While Attempting to Escape
Following a tip received on Thursday night about an imminent weapons hand‑over, SWAT commander Shailendra Pratap Singh and Crime Inspector Devendra Kumar Mishra cordoned off the area. When the three men on a motorcycle realized they were being watched, they tried to flee, but the rapid‑response team had already sealed off the perimeter, forcing them to surrender peacefully.
New Leads Prompt Further Raids
All three detainees are residents of Ghazipur and are believed to be linked to an interstate trafficking network that sources arms from Khandwa and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. Interrogations revealed the existence of two additional accomplices, prompting police raids in nearby villages to locate the remaining members and dismantle the larger ring.
The arrests form part of a district‑wide crackdown on illegal weapons, ordered by the police chief, aimed at curbing the flow of unregistered firearms across state borders.
