Most country-made guns seized made in UP, says Navi Mumbai cops

Times of India: Navi Mumbai: Saturday, 03 May 2014.

Most illegal country-made guns, which are seized by the police in Navi Mumbai, have markings such as 'Made in USA', 'Made in England' and 'Made in Austria'. However, Navi Mumbai crime branch officials said that despite tall claims, these guns are primarily manufactured in foundries in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and later sold in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana, among others, at cheap rates.

"We have so far seized 17 illegal country made guns this year. These guns often look crude but pack enough power to do serious damage. Most of these guns have Made In USA or UK or Austria engraved on the side, which is obviously false," said deputy commissioner of police (crime) Shrikant Pathak.

Just last month, a crime branch team had nabbed two youths at Mhape MIDC, seizing two country made pistols and seven live rounds, which they had reportedly procured from a UP-based gun runner.

These guns are not only easy to smuggle, they are also easy to procure.

"Most of these guns are sold between Rs10,000-35,000. We have asked other state police departments to keep a check on such illegal plants and take appropriate action,'' said Pathak.

According to a report published in 2013, a reply to an RTI query stated that about 150 people had been arrested since 2008 for possessing 116 unlicensed firearms.

These guns have even managed to make their way into courts and jailhouses.

In June, a convict, Devendra Jagtap, fired at arrested underworld don, Abu Salem, with an illegal country-made handgun, inside Taloja Jail.

Since these guns are cheap, they are also used by petty criminals, cops said.

"A lot of criminal elements such as house-breakers, car thieves and robbers buy such illegal and cheap weapons in order to scare their victims. That is how this gun business flourishes from the remote villages in central India to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane" said a crime branch inspector.