Umarti central India’s major pistol hub, illegal arms marketed via Telegram, Insta

Nagpur: The recent joint raid by Nagpur Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Buldhana Police, which resulted in seizure of illegal firearms allegedly sourced from Madhya Pradesh's notorious Umarti village, has once again brought the remote hamlet in Barwani district in the neighbouring state into focus as a main illegal arms manufacturing and supply hub in Central India.Probe indicated that the network has deep roots in Maharashtra. Pune alone is estimated to have received 300 to 400 illegal firearms annually, with confirmed links established in at least 7 cases and connections in 132 seizures. Similar supply chains have been traced in Jalna, which reported 21 cases, as well as Satara. In latest development, ATS has unearthed fresh linkages in Wardha, Buldhana in Vidarbha. Officials noted that these weapons are of high quality, with sleek designs, making them particularly attractive to criminal networks.Despite a major crackdown in November 2025, fresh recoveries suggest that Umarti's well-organised arms manufacturing network has resumed operations after a temporary hiatus and firearms continue to flow into Maharashtra. This has prompted Nagpur City and Rural police to step up investigations into possible linkages, amid growing concerns about arms trafficking reaching Vidarbha.DCP (Crime) Rahul Maknikar said most interceptions trace back to Khargone, Burhanpur and nearby areas, adding links to Umarti cannot be ruled out. Umarti first gained notoriety during ‘Operation Umarti', a crackdown carried out in November 2025 by Pune Police under commissioner Amitesh Kumar. The operation involved over 105 personnel, including commandos, riot control teams and surveillance experts using UAVs, body cameras and GIS mapping technology.The operation exposed a "hi-tech" illegal arms ecosystem, where units mass-produced country-made pistols marked with a "star" symbol and branded "USA" (Umarti Shikalgar Arms). These weapons were marketed through social media platforms like Instagram, Telegram and Signal and distributed using dead-drop delivery for covert supplies.Follow-up data revealed a 63% year-on-year rise in illegal weapon seizures and 62% increase in traffickers between 2024 and 2025, with many cases linked to Umarti. The village's annual production capacity was estimated at around 6,660 firearms, while total output from similar hubs exceeded 20,000 weapons yearly. Operations have faced stiff resistance, including stone-pelting, mob mobilisation and use of women and kids as shields. Recent seizures indicate the network wasnt fully dismantled. Officials said the 530-km distance from Nagpur makes the route vulnerable for smuggling into Vidarbha. Sources suggest possible links between Nagpur-based criminals and Umarti dealers.