Illegal gun-making unit busted; one arrested, weapons seized

Times News NetworkBarwani: An illegal firearms manufacturing unit was busted in Shahpura village under Sendhwa Rural police station limits in Barwani on Tuesday. One person was arrested and a cache of country-made weapons, weapon parts and manufacturing equipment was seized.Sendhwa Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Ajay Waghmare said that police teams conducted a raid in Sikligar locality of Shahpura following specific inputs.During the operation, one suspect managed to escape, while another locked himself inside a room. Police said some local women attempted to obstruct the raid, but the officers persuaded them before breaking open the door and arresting the accused, identified as 34-year-old Kailash Patwa.The police seized three country-made pistols, one pistol mould, one semi-finished pistol, 12 pistol barrels, two barrel-making moulds, four magazine moulds, and several tools and equipment used for manufacturing firearms, including a drilling machine, grinder and pliers.Sendhwa Rural Police Station in charge OP Singh Chaungde said that the accused was produced before a court, which granted police remand. “We are questioning him about the source of the pistol barrels and are also trying to identify others linked to the illegal firearm manufacturing network”, he said.