Pune Police and Military Intelligence Uncover Major Fake Arms License Scam, Arrest Nine from J&K

In a significant breakthrough, Pune Police, in collaboration with the Southern Command's Military Intelligence, have successfully dismantled an illegal arms racket that involved nine individuals from Jammu and Kashmir. These individuals, who had been posing as armed security guards, were arrested in a series of raids carried out across Ahilyanagar, Pune, and surrounding districts.

A Coordinated Operation

The operation, which spanned multiple locations including Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Shrigonda, Sonai, and Pune, led to the arrest of nine men from the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the authorities, these individuals had been working as security guards at various banks and security agencies using fraudulent firearm licenses.

The arrests followed months of investigation by Military Intelligence, who had gathered crucial information suggesting that several security guards employed in the region were carrying illegal firearms and using forged licenses. Upon receiving actionable intelligence, Pune and Maharashtra Police, along with the Military Intelligence team, coordinated the search efforts, which culminated in the seizure of nine 12-bore rifles and 58 live cartridges.

A Deep-Rooted Scam

The police investigation revealed that the accused had been employed in the security industry since 2015, with many of them working at high-profile locations like banks and cash transport services. The firearms and fake licenses were used to secure these positions, which often come with lucrative pay.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shabbir Mohammad Gujjar (38), Mohammad Salim alias Saleem Gul (32), Mohammad Safraz (24), Jahangir Zakir (28), Shahbaz Ahmed (33), Surjeet Singh, Abdul Rashid Chidiya (38), Tuefel Gazia, and Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hassan. The authorities confirmed that the firearms and licenses were forged, with the district officials from Rajouri verifying that these licenses were never issued by them.

A Closer Look at the Racket

Further investigation has pointed to Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hassan as the main facilitator behind the scam. He allegedly helped the accused acquire fake firearm licenses and rifles for a price of Rs 50,000 each. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the operation and trace the origins of the illegal arms and licenses.

While there is no evidence linking this case to terrorism at present, authorities have made it clear that the scale of the forgery was aimed at obtaining security jobs, rather than any larger criminal motive. However, the ongoing probe may still reveal deeper connections or other individuals involved in this illicit network.

The Bigger Picture

This case serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in the security industry, where fraudulent practices can easily slip under the radar, especially when it comes to the issuance of arms licenses. The use of fake documents to gain access to sensitive positions in banks and other establishments highlights the need for stricter verification processes in such sectors.

The authorities are committed to investigating the full scope of this scam, and the arrests are just the beginning of what could be a broader crackdown on illegal firearms and forged licenses. For now, the focus remains on identifying all parties involved and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.