STF nabs two notorious arms smugglers, 28 illegal pistols seized

ALLAHABAD: In a major breakthrough, a joint team of STF (special task force) and Mauaima police on Wednesday arrested two notorious arms smugglers including a madarsa teacher near Ramnagar Ghanshyari railway line while planning to dispose of a huge cache of illegal weapons. The police have seized a total of 28 pistols including 14 pistols of 0.315 bore, and 14 pistols of 0.32 bore, two mobile phones, one arms license of 0.32 bore SBBL gun, one bike and Rs 220 cash from their possession.
The arrested arms smugglers were identified as Rauaf Ahmad and Maruf Ahmad , both residents of Lalgarh ( Partapgarh district).Deputy SP (STF) Pravin Singh Chauhan told TOI " both the arrested racketeers were the member an inter-state arms smuggling gang who had been involved in this illegal trade for the past eight years".
DSP further added that police have been looking for one Hafiz, a resident of Barabanki as he was the kingpin of the racket. The illegal weapons are being smuggled from Munger ( Bihar) and Khandwa ( MP)to UP towns but the consignment seized on Wednesday, was being brought from Sambhal (UP).
After smuggling the illegal weapons, these arms smugglers used to keep them at a local Madarsa in Pratapgarh district to avoid police suspicion. Police said that arrested Maruf was teacher at same madarsa and he used to hide the consignment here and offer share of profit to hafiz. The illegal pistol of 0.32 bore is being sold at a cost of Rs 20,000 while the 0.9mm pistol is sold at a cost of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000.