Four arrested with 11 pistols, 46 cartridges from Rander

SURAT: Four persons were arrested from Rander after they were found possessing 11 country-made pistols, 46 cartridges and two empty magazines worth Rs 2.75 lakh here on Thursday.
The vigilance squad of director general of police arrested Mohammad Ilyas Bilal Kapadiya, 35, a resident of Rander, and recovered from his possession five country-made pistols.Kapadiya told police during questioning that he had sold six country-made pistols to three other persons.
Based on the information, Mohammad Vasim Shaikh, Mohammad Umar Abdul Razaaq Memon and Shamshad Raju Pathan were arrested. Shaikh and Memon were working as Kapadiya’s agents.
“The weapons were brought to the city from Madhya Pradesh by Kapadiya and his men in private vehicles. Kapadiya sold the weapons through Shaikh and Memon whom he paid a commission ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000,” said D S Chauhan, in-charge deputy superintendent of police, vigilance squad. Unlike Shaikh and Memon, Pathan had kept the pistols with him for his safety, police investigation revealed. Police recovered two pistols from Shaikh, one from Memon and three from Pathan.
Kapadiya was arrested in the past by the crime branch and a pistol recovered from his possession. Once out on bail, he began his illegal trade of weapons for which he had been earlier booked, police said.
“The accused used to purchase a pistol for Rs 25,000 and sell it for Rs 50,000. The weapons are country-made but are given a good finishing touch,” Chauhan added.
Sources claim there is a rivalry among two groups of history-sheeters for cornering the illegal weapon trading business in the city. Ashraf Nagori and others of his gang were arrested by the city crime branch after recovering of 11 pistols from them in 2013. Kapadiya belongs to Nagori’s rival group.
The accused will be produced before a local court for remand on Friday.