Nagpur: Crime Branch Unit 5 achieved a major breakthrough on Tuesday by arresting two men in separate operations for carrying illegal country-made firearms. Police seized pistols, live cartridges, cash, and mobile phones worth over ₹1.26 lakh.
Futala Lake Operation: Man Caught with Pistol and Cartridges
During the early hours of August 20 (between 1.30 am and 2.50 am), a Crime Branch Unit 5 team was patrolling in Ambazari limits when they received a tip-off. Acting swiftly, officers set up a trap near Hanuman Vyayamshala, Futala Lake, and intercepted a suspect.
The man was identified as Pankaj alias Bhalla Bhallaji Atram (44), resident of Old Futala Vasti, Ambazari. On searching him in the presence of panch witnesses, police recovered a country-made pistol with a steel magazine, three live cartridges, and a mobile phone. The seized property is valued at around ₹63,000.
During interrogation, Atram revealed that he had procured the firearm through wanted accused Shailesh Dhanraj Kadbe of Ramtek with the help of accomplices Vishwas Solanki and Shahrukh Rajput. Police said he was allegedly planning to commit a serious offence.
A case has been registered at Ambazari Police Station under Sections 3, 25 of the Arms Act and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. The accused has been arrested and handed over to Ambazari Police for further probe.
Tehsil Area Trap: Another Man Nabbed with Firearm
Later the same day, around 8 am, another team from Crime Branch Unit 5 laid a trap near Timki Dadra Bridge, Tehsil area, based on intelligence input.
The accused, identified as Purushottam Gangadhar Bhagatkar (44), resident of Dadrapul, Tehsil, was searched in the presence of witnesses. Police recovered a country-made pistol with magazine, two live cartridges, a mobile phone, and ₹1,500 in cash — collectively valued at ₹63,500.
Police said Bhagatkar was also carrying the firearm with the intention of committing a cognizable crime. A case was registered at Tehsil Police Station under Sections 3, 25 of the Arms Act and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. He too was arrested and handed over for further action.
Operation Supervised by Top Brass
The crackdown was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singhal, Joint CP Navin Chand Reddy, Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Detection) Rahul Makanikar, and ACP (Crime Branch) Abhijit Patil.
The action team included PI Sandeep Buwa, PSI Rahul Rote, API Rupesh Nanawtkar, Chandrashekhar Gautam, ASI Raju Takalkar, and constables Vishal Nagbhidkar, Devchand Thote, Roshan Tandulkar, and Sudhir Tiwari.
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