'Sweepers by day, gun dealers by night': Delhi Police bust arms gang moonlighting as gunrunners
Delhi Police have arrested 18 individuals allegedly involved in an illegal arms network, marking a major disruption to gun trafficking in the Delhi-NCR region. The police action targeted a syndicate that supplied weapons to criminals, with suspects leading double lives in various low-wage jobs while secretly engaging in arms trade.
Operation “Eagle” uncovers hidden gun trade
The arrests followed a meticulously planned operation, codenamed “Eagle,” led by Additional CP Sanjay Bhatia and DCP (Crime) Bisham Singh. Initiated based on a tip-off, the operation initially focused on two suspects, Arshad and Mohammed Suleman, who were planning a robbery in Noida and were reportedly armed. Police acted swiftly, conducting a raid at the paper market in Ghazipur, East Delhi. Officers intercepted the suspects’ car, leading to a confrontation in which one suspect attempted to threaten officers with a firearm. Both men were eventually subdued and arrested, and police recovered a pistol, ammunition, knives, and a stolen car.
Undercover criminals posing as ordinary workers
Investigations revealed that many of the suspects held regular jobs, working as hotel cleaners, salon workers, laborers, and security guards. However, their real involvement lay in arms supply, which they pursued for easy financial gain. “The arrests mark a significant disruption to the illegal arms supply chain in Delhi and NCR,” said Special Commissioner Devesh Shrivastava. Police seized four semi-automatic pistols, eight country-made pistols, one rifle, and 33 live cartridges in the operation, striking a major blow to the flow of illegal arms.
