Uncovered in Rajasthan: Illicit Firearm Manufacturing Facility by Delhi Police, Yielding 18 Handguns
In a significant operation, the Delhi Police have successfully dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing unit in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The fully operational workshop, located in the Bhima Pahari area of Dheeg near a lake, was capable of producing firearms regularly.
During the raid on 30 July, the police team recovered two pistols, one unfinished weapon, three rifle components, and various manufacturing tools from the site. In addition, 18 single-shot pistols and several incomplete firearms were recovered.
The primary manufacturer and supplier of these illegal arms is a 22-year-old resident of Rajasthan named Bilal. He took over the operation following his uncle's death in 2018. Bilal's supply chain extended to Delhi and its surrounding areas.
Bilal, who became an established figure in the illicit arms trade across Mewat and Bharatpur over the years, was apprehended in Dwarka's Bamnoli area of Delhi, where he was allegedly attempting to deliver illegal firearms. Simultaneously, Sahil, a 25-year-old resident of Bharatpur, was arrested for managing logistics and helping locate buyers for the arms.
Sahil, a Class 12 dropout with a background of substance abuse and a previous cheating case, is believed to have assisted Bilal in the illegal arms trade. Bilal's elder brother, Asgar, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2020 for a similar offense.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the scale of the network and its wider connections across northern India. The police are also investigating two recent cases in which Bilal emerged as the prime suspect for supplying arms to criminal groups operating in Delhi.
In one such case, the weapons supplied by Bilal were allegedly used by men extorting money from truck drivers at gunpoint. Further details regarding the scale and geographic reach of Bilal and Sahil's network are not yet available, as the investigations continue.
The apprehension of Bilal and Sahil has led to a surge of general-news coverage, with many reporting on the dismantling of an illegal arms manufacturing unit in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. This incident, which unfolded on 30 July, also involves crime-and-justice implications, given the recovery of numerous firearms and the suspected involvement of criminal elements in the extortion of truck drivers. The ongoing investigations aim to delve deeper into the politics behind these illegal activities and uncover the extent of the network across northern India.
