Firing case: 8 nabbed with seven mauser, live cartridges

Nagpur: The crime branch of city police has claimed to have seized seven mauser and live cartridges from a gang of eight following revelation that transport-cum-property dealer Mustaque Ashrafi had himself planned the firing on him. Though Ashrafi is the alleged mastermind in the case, no case has been registered against him so far.
Briefing media at crime branch office, DIG Crime Shrikant Tarwade and DCP Deepali Masirkar said the crime branch had started its independent investigation in the case.The officials claimed that the case is registered at Yashodhara Nagar police station. “Yashodhara Nagar police will investigate the case their way,” they added.
A few days ago, crime branch police had rounded-up four persons, identified as Feroze Ali alias Sallu, Imran Ansari, Wazid Baig and Ansar Sheikh who were later handed over to Yashodhara Nagar police. Crime branch police had also seized a mauser which was used in the crime and submitted it with the Yashodhara Nagar police station.
Ashrafi had claimed that he was shot at by Raju Shaikh alias Taklya, Feroze Khan Aziz Khan alias Abu and Shahnawaz Khan at Pili Nadi. Feroze and Raju are now in custody of Yashodhara Nagar police. The eight persons arrested by crime branch have been identified as Shehbaz Ansari, Israr Ahmed, Abhisehk Sharma, Abdul Qureshi, Amrendra Singh Bagga, Mosin Ahmed, Abdul Aziz and Mohammad Muntazase Khan.
Masirkar said the gang was allegedly involved in illegal supply and transport of fire arms in and outside the city. Ashrafi, who played a major role in this illegal trade, was supported by his two main partners, Feroze and Mohammad Muntaz, the cop added.
Police said the gang also possesses fire arms without licence. Police said they are now on the search of people to whom these fire arms were supplied. “We are still interrogating the arrested persons and hope to get hold of more accused in the case,” said Masirkar. However, officials failed to give reply on corrupt officers who were allegedly extorting money from the accused in the case.