Two ex-Salem aides held with guns in Santacruz

Crime branch sleuths on Saturday arrested two history-sheeters who were associated with gangster Abu Salem's group, in possession of firearms from Santacruz. The police are now investigating whether the firearms were supposed to be supplied to underworld elements.

According to the crime branch's Bandra unit, they had received a tip-off that two people would be arriving near a hotel at Sakharam Bua Patil Marg in Santacruz to supply weapons. Sarfaraz Mohammad Mustafa Siddiqui, 35, and Arif Raees Khan alias Lallu, 32, were apprehended as soon as they arrived at the spot.

The police seized a pistol, a revolver and nine rounds from the two. "We are trying to track down the source of these weapons and the receivers of the consignment. The two are associated with Abu Salem's gang and have nearly half a dozen criminal cases registered against them including murder and extortion. We suspect that the weapons were to be delivered to some underworld gang," said a crime branch officer.

The duo has been remanded to police custody till September 20, police said.