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Delhi Police on Saturday claimed to have busted an illegal arms manufacturing unit operating out of Rajasthan’s Bharatpur with the arrest of six people and recovery of country-made firearms.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harsh Indora, a huge cache of illegal firearms, including country-made pistols (desi katta), rifles, and various tools and instruments used for manufacturing firearms, has been recovered from the possession of the accused.
According to another officer, the case came to light after a tip-off was received a few days ago, about one Bilal Khan, 22, who was allegedly delivering weapons in On the intervening night of July 27 and 28, ASI (Assistant Sub-Inspector) Narender and HC (Head Constable) Dharamraj received credible information about a planned delivery of arms by Bilal in the Bamnoli area of Dwarka in Delhi. According to the police, a trap was laid, and Bilal was apprehended while in possession of 8 single-shot pistols and a scooter.
During questioning, Bilal led the team to a factory in Bhima Pahari, Dheeg, Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Upon raiding the factory, two single-shot pistols, a semi-prepared single-shot pistol, three parts of a semi-prepared rifle, multiple tools and instruments used in arms manufacturing, grinder machine, hammer, iron plates, metal files (Retti), wire cutter, chisels, screwdriver, iron body plates, barrels, screws, bench vise, reg mark, steel wires, and 16 components used for assembling illegal firearms were recovered.
Following the recovery of the illegal arms, police said that Bilal disclosed the name of one of his suppliers, identified as Sahil (25) from Deeg, Rajasthan. Soon after, Sahil was arrested, and two more single-shot pistols were recovered from his possession, police said.
This latest case is not Sahil’s first brush with the law. According to the officer, Sahil was previously involved in cases of online cheating in 2023. Sahil came into contact with Bilal, and together, they formed a syndicate of illegal firearms, police added.
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Apart from Sahil and Bilal, four more individuals — Ravinder, Mustaq, Pawan, and Rahish — were arrested, each found in possession of a single-shot pistol. They were the receivers of the illegal arms, the officer said.
The police said Bilal is engaged in running a furniture business with his brother Asgar. According to the police, Asgar has a previous record of involvement in arms supply and was arrested by the Special Cell in 2020 with an illegal arms consignment.
On how Bilal entered into the world of illegal arms manufacturing, the officer said, “Bilal confessed that he was in search of easy money and became aware of the increasing demand for illegal weapons in the Mewat region.”
In early 2017, Bilal learned how to manufacture illegal weapons from his uncle, who was running a small-scale arms manufacturing unit, the officer added. Following his uncle’s demise in 2018, Bilal began manufacturing single-shot pistols on his own.
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Initially, he produced and supplied these weapons based on demand through known contacts, the officer said. With the growing demand for illegal arms, particularly in the Bharatpur-Mewat area, Bilal’s popularity grew, which eventually led him to establish a network for a large-scale distribution of illicit arms, the officer said.
Delhi Police Busts Illegal Arms Factory in Rajasthan, Arrests 6 in Major Crackdown
In a significant blow to illegal arms manufacturing in India, the Delhi Police have dismantled a clandestine arms factory operating deep within Rajasthan, leading to the arrest of six individuals. The operation, conducted after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, highlights the persistent threat of illegal firearms in fueling crime and violence across states.
The Tip-Off and Planning
The breakthrough came after the Delhi Police’s Special Cell received credible information about a network of arms suppliers linked to criminal gangs in the National Capital Region (NCR). The intelligence indicated that the weapons were being produced in rural Rajasthan and then smuggled into Delhi and neighboring states.
A dedicated team was formed to track the suspects, map their routes, and monitor their communication channels. Undercover officers spent days shadowing couriers and identifying the factory’s exact location.
The Raid
Armed with a search warrant, the Special Cell, in collaboration with the local Rajasthan police, launched a pre-dawn raid. The illegal factory was hidden in an isolated property, designed to blend with ordinary village structures to avoid suspicion. Inside, police discovered a sophisticated setup with lathes, drilling machines, and tools specifically adapted for weapons production.
Over 50 semi-finished pistols, dozens of barrels, and large quantities of raw materials were seized. Ammunition and firearm blueprints were also found, indicating that the operation had been running for months, possibly years.
The Arrests
The six individuals arrested include the alleged mastermind, two skilled machinists, and three couriers. Preliminary questioning has revealed that they were part of a larger network supplying weapons to gangs involved in robberies, extortion, and other organized crimes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Bigger Picture
The bust sheds light on a disturbing trend — the rise of interstate illegal arms manufacturing in India. Small factories like this often operate in rural areas where law enforcement presence is limited, making them difficult to detect. The weapons are then sold at high margins in urban crime markets.
According to police officials, such operations not only threaten law and order but also have implications for national security. Untraceable, locally-made firearms are often used in violent crimes, making it harder for investigators to track perpetrators.
Statements from Authorities
A senior Delhi Police officer praised the coordination between the two states’ forces, noting:
“This is a major success in our ongoing efforts to curb the supply of illegal arms. We will continue to dismantle such networks that pose a danger to public safety.”
Next Steps
The arrested individuals are currently in police custody and will face charges under the Arms Act and other relevant laws. Further investigations aim to trace the buyers of these weapons and identify other possible manufacturing units operating across state lines.
Conclusion
This operation is a testament to the importance of interstate cooperation in tackling organized crime. The seizure of dozens of illegal weapons and the arrest of key players have undoubtedly prevented potential crimes and saved lives.