Nanded police seize 703 sharp-edged weapons worth Rs 14 lakh

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Weeks after seizing 4,796 sharp-edged weapons, the Nanded police recovered another cache of 703 weapons from a shop in the city during a fresh crackdown on illegal arms trade.The raid was carried out on Saturday at Salana Market in the Gurdwara Road area, under the Wazirabad police station limits, following a tip-off about illegal stocking of weapons. The police said the action was part of the district-wide “Operation Crackdown”.“Operation Crackdown has been launched to create deterrence against criminal activities and illegal weapons trade. Strict action is being taken against those violating the law, and such operations will continue with greater intensity,” superintendent of police Abinash Kumar said.According to officials, inspector Atul Bhosale, of the local crime branch, received specific information that a large quantity of weapons had been stocked for illegal sale in shop number 8 by one Ranjitsingh Sardar. A team led by sub-inspector Milind Sonkambale conducted the raid.During the search, police seized 470 swords, 209 daggers and knives, and 24 fighters, collectively valued at Rs 14 lakh.Police said the accused, Ranjitsingh Sardar, fled during the operation. A search has been launched to trace and arrest him.Officials said the seizure follows close on the heels of the May 7 operation by the Nanded Rural police, in which 4,796 sharp-edged weapons, including Indian and foreign-made swords, daggers and kukris, were confiscated. The earlier operation had been described as the biggest such seizure in the state.Police said several repeat offenders have been detained or externed under the ongoing drive. The repeated recoveries, officials added, point to a larger network involved in illegal storage and sale of sharp-edged weapons in the region.A case has been registered at Wazirabad police station, and further investigation is underway.