Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 8: In two separate operations, the Govandi and Vikhroli police have seized firearms, including a German company–manufactured revolver and a country-made pistol, from different parts of the city and arrested two persons, one of them an auto-rickshaw driver. Further investigations are underway in both cases, police said.
According to the Govandi police, the arrest was made following a tip-off received on January 5. Acting on information provided by a confidential informant, a police team led by Police Sub-Inspector Vaibhav Gade reached the Telecom Factory area in Agarwadi, Deonar, Mankhurd, around 5.50 pm.
The police detained Gulam Tahidarja Abdul Hakim Qureshi (31), an auto-rickshaw driver residing in the Indiranagar slum at Lallubhai Compound, Mankhurd. During a personal search, officers recovered a grey-coloured, single-barrel revolver manufactured by German company Arminius, valued at approximately Rs 40,000.
Based on a complaint filed by Police Constable Satish Salunkhe of the Crime Detection Unit, the Govandi police registered a case against Qureshi under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, along with Sections 37(1)(a) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. He was arrested and further interrogation is ongoing.
Country-made pistol recovered in Vikhroli
In a separate incident on the same day, the Crime Detection Unit of the Vikhroli police station, led by Police Sub-Inspector Pankaj Patil, was on preventive patrol near Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk in Vikhroli East around 5.38 pm. The police noticed a suspicious individual and detained him after a brief chase.
The accused was identified as Arif Ansar Sheikh (33), a resident of Islam Pura, Suryanagar, Vikhroli West. A search led to the recovery of a country-made pistol along with a live cartridge.
Following a complaint lodged by Police Constable Suhas Manohar Avhad, the Vikhroli police registered a case against Sheikh under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 37(1)(a) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. The accused was arrested and claimed during interrogation that he had found the firearm in garbage while collecting scrap.
Police said further investigation is in progress in both cases.