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In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police Special Cell, in coordination with security agencies, has tracked down and arrested India’s biggest arms supplier, Sheikh Salim alias Salim Pistol, in Nepal.
Salim, who had been on the run since 2018, is the first person to have supplied Zigana pistols to gangsters in India and has been a key conduit for smuggling sophisticated weapons from Pakistan for several years.
According to security agencies, Salim maintained deep links with Pakistan’s ISI and the underworld network of D Company. He is also known to be the mentor of one of the accused in Sidhu Moosewala’s murder. His name had earlier surfaced in the Baba Siddiqui murder case as well.
A resident of Seelampur, Delhi, Salim began his criminal career with vehicle thefts before moving on to armed robberies and large-scale arms trafficking. He has supplied weapons to several notorious gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi, Hashim Baba, and others.
Salim was first arrested in Delhi in 2018 but managed to flee abroad after securing bail. Acting on fresh intelligence inputs about his presence in Nepal, Delhi Police moved swiftly to coordinate with local authorities, leading to his arrest.
Police sources revealed that Salim’s dossier details his troubled past — dropping out of school after Class VIII due to financial constraints, engaging in petty crime, and eventually becoming a key player in the illegal arms trade.
Notorious Arms Supplier ‘Salim Pistol’ Nabbed in Nepal by Joint Security Operation
In a major cross-border counter‑terrorism breakthrough on August 8, 2025, Delhi Police’s Special Cell and several security agencies arrested Sheikh Salim, famously dubbed “Salim Pistol”, in Nepal. Intelligence inputs revealed he was a top-tier arms trafficker, supplying high-end weaponry from Pakistan to India’s criminal underworld—including figures like Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba आज तक.
A Crime Career Forged in Desperation and Deed
Born in 1972 in Seelampur, Delhi, Salim abandoned formal education after class eight and started working as a car driver. He gradually drifted into vehicle theft, weaponized robbery, and high-value looting. His criminal journey gained momentum around 2000, with multiple arrests leading eventually to his escape abroad in 2018 आज तक.
From exile, Salim orchestrated an expansive smuggling network: importing high‑grade arms—such as pistols and carbines—from Pakistan, funneling them through Nepal before distribution to operatives across India. The arrest shattered his covert workshop and supply‑chain structures आज तक.
International Connections: ISI and D‑Company
Security agencies unearthed solid evidence linking Salim to Pakistan’s notorious Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI) and the underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim’s “D‑Company”. These ties underscored a troubling blend of state-backed intelligence channels and criminal syndicates fueling transnational arms trafficking आज तक.
A History of Violent Associations
Salim’s name has surfaced in high-profile cases, notably the Sidhu Moose Wala murder investigation and the Baba Siddiqui murder case, pointing to his suspected role as a significant instigator or facilitator in violent crimes आज तक. He was even credited as the mentor to one of the accused in the Moose Wala killing, signifying his deep entrenchment within violent criminal networks.
Why the Arrest Matters
Chokes off a major supply route: With Salim removed, the flow of advanced weaponry from Pakistan into India via Nepal suffers a major blow.
Disrupts criminal ecosystems: Criminal outfits linked with high-profile underworld figures will likely face disruptions in logistics and weapon procurement.
Exposes foreign-state nexus: The connections to ISI and D‑Company highlight the multi-layered threats stemming from both insurgent networks and organized crime.
Broader Challenges at the Indo‑Nepal Border
This arrest occurs against a backdrop of persistent security vulnerabilities along the open, porous Indo‑Nepal border. Analysts frequently cite inadequate infrastructure, resource constraints, and limited surveillance as enabling smuggling—of not just weapons, but also drugs, counterfeit currency, and even human traffickers Reddit+1.
The Road Ahead: Aftermath and Implications
Extended interrogation: Authorities are now probing Salim for insights into his operational hierarchy, funding mechanisms, distribution networks, and collaborators.
Disrupting allied networks: Links to ISI and D‑Company are expected to open windows into broader criminal-intelligence interfaces, potentially yielding more arrests.
Security reforms: This arrest may amplify focus on border security modernization—boosting checkpoints, surveillance, and Indo‑Nepal intelligence sharing.
Conclusion
The capture of Sheikh Salim (“Salim Pistol”) marks a critical milestone in India’s ongoing battle against arms trafficking. His arrest not only dismantles a high-stakes smuggling operation but shines a light on the dangerous entanglements of underworld networks, foreign intelligence, and cross-border crimes. While enforcement has taken a leap forward, systemic challenges at the border must now be addressed to prevent the rise of another Salim from exploiting regional vulnerabilities.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter summary, infographics to accompany it, or a deep dive into the Indo‑Nepal security dynamics.
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