ATS nabs three with firearms, cartridges

Local unit of state Anti-Terrorist Squad has netted from the outskirts of city three youths who had come from Seoni in Madhya Pradesh to finalise a deal of firearms. Though their links appear to be with inter-state arms smugglers, ATS has found some crucial details in their mobile phones and laptop that appear serious.

ATS sleuths were intrigued on finding the youngsters in possession of a laptop when they had come to sell firearms. The cops now intend to delve deeper into the contents of the laptop that had a few suspicious names which could be linked to terror or arms dealing networks. A senior ATS officer did not rule out the possibility of these youths to be part of a bigger and more sinister syndicate. "We were surprised the youths had the guts to enter the city with two firearms and that too during the ongoing winter session of legislature in progress," said a senior ATS officer.

The cops feel that the arrested youths were not furnishing their real identities and residential addresses. This has raised further suspicion. Police are trying to establish their real identity with the help of Seoni police. Posing as prospective client, ATS cops had laid a trap for the youths who were supposed to bring them two firearms for Rs 20,000. Mohammed Arshad Khan (19), Mudassar Ali (23) and Fahim Khan, alias Golu (22) were caught red-handed while they were in the process of finalizing the deal with undercover ATS sleuths. "We are trying to verify whether Mudassar's family members are attached to police department in Madhya Pradesh," said a cop.

A crude local-made revolver and a Mouser revolver were recovered from the trio along with two cartridges. Two more sharp weapons were found on their person. "This has become a recent trend in the city. Nagpur-based criminals, particularly ones operating smaller gangs in the city, are contacting their counterparts in places like Seoni in Madhya Pradesh to procure crude firearms from them," said a senior ATS officer.

"There is increasingly more use of firearms in activities of criminals. The criminals are using firearms more than weapons like knives or swordsticks. The arms dealers come from places like Seoni and Chhindwara with consignment of hand-made firearms and deliver them to their clients in roadside bars or dhabas," said the cop.

The ATS cops have registered an offence at Parseoni police station under Nagpur rural police. The latest raid was in continuation of the ongoing ATS action on illegal arms dealers.