Khargone: In a significant breakthrough against illegal arms manufacturing, Khargone Police raided an illicit factory operating on the bank of the Rupa river in Signoor village on Friday and arrested five individuals red-handed.
Acting on a credible tip-off, a joint team from Gogawan and Sanawad police stations conducted the operation in the evening.
The raid, part of a special district-wide campaign against illegal weapon manufacturing and trafficking, resulted in the seizure of a large cache of arms, ammunition components and manufacturing equipment worth approximately Rs 2.75 lakh, Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma said.
Police recovered nine country-made pistols and two country-made guns (kattas) from the site.
Authorities also seized two unfinished pistols, 11 barrels, two magazines, four unfinished magazines, three grinding machines, moulds for pistols and magazines, a furnace blower, hammers, tongs and screwdrivers.
The recovered items clearly indicate a fully functional setup for producing illegal firearms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vikas Singh Sikligar (19), Kanha Sikligar (30), Suraj Singh Sikligar (40), Gurubadal Singh Sikligar (22), and Roshan Singh (19). All five are residents of Signoor village.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the accused already had cases registered against them under the Arms Act.
Verma further said the operation was carried out under the directives of Inspector General Anurag (Indore Rural) and Deputy Inspector General Siddharth Bahuguna (Nimar Range).
Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shakuntala Ruhal supervised the raid.
“The campaign to curb illegal arms manufacturing in Khargone is yielding strong results. We are now interrogating the arrested individuals to trace the supply network and identify other members of the racket,” a senior police official said.
A case has been registered against the accused under Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act.
Further investigation is underway to determine the destinations where these weapons were being supplied and to uncover possible links with other criminal elements.
(IANS)
