Pune Police uncover 700 illegal guns linked to MP border village.
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
In a sweeping breakthrough that reveals the depth of illegal arms trafficking across state borders, Pune Police have traced a series of firing incidents in the city to a notorious gun-manufacturing hub situated on the Madhya Pradesh border. This clandestine village — long known among criminal networks — is suspected to have supplied over 700 illicit weapons to gangs operating across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Our investigation provides a detailed, authoritative look into this alarming network, its operational scale, and the implications it carries for public safety and law enforcement.
Table of Contents
A Hidden Arms Factory Behind Pune’s Recent Firing Episodes
Over the past several months, Pune has witnessed a spike in firing cases — from gang clashes to intimidation shootings linked to extortion networks. What initially appeared as isolated incidents soon revealed a common thread: the same type of country-made pistols, identical in craftsmanship, calibre, and firing mechanism.
Ballistic reports hinted at a common origin, prompting city police and crime branch units to dig deeper. Their search ultimately led to an MP border village infamous within underground syndicates: a place where illegal weapon-making has been a generational trade.
The MP Border Village: A Hub of Illicit Weapon Manufacturing
A Silent Manufacturing Belt
The village, located near the MP–UP border, operates as a full-scale, underground industry producing illegal firearms. Reports indicate:
- 700+ weapons manufactured and supplied in the last two years
- Small cottage workshops disguised as homes, farms, or sheds
- Entire families involved in assembly, polishing, and testing
- Pistol manufacturing cost as low as ₹3,000–₹6,000, resold in markets for ₹25,000–₹70,000
Distribution Networks Across States
Arms from the village have been traced to:
- Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad
- Mumbai and Thane
- Indore and Bhopal
- Jaipur and Kota
- Various districts in Uttar Pradesh
Traffickers typically transport these weapons using:
- Trucks carrying agricultural supplies
- Private cars with modified hidden compartments
- Parcel services under fake identities
- Foot couriers using state transport buses
How Pune Police Cracked the Link
Arrests in Firing Cases Provided the First Clues
Several accused involved in the Pune firing incidents confessed to buying “MP-made guns” through local intermediaries. WhatsApp chats, digital transactions, and call records helped establish the route.
Undercover Operations and Shadowing Routes
Crime branch officers shadowed transporters moving between Pune and MP, eventually identifying smugglers making frequent night halts near the border.
Seizure of Illegal Weapons
In coordinated raids:
- Dozens of pistols
- Live cartridges
- Weapon-making tools
- Unfinished firearm parts
were recovered, matching the ballistic signatures from Pune crime scenes.
Inside the Illegal Gun-Making Process
Traditional Craft Turned Criminal Enterprise
The village’s expertise goes back decades, originally rooted in blacksmithing and repair of agricultural tools. Over time, some groups shifted to weapon-making, using their skills to craft:
- 7.65 mm pistols
- 9 mm country-made guns
- Pipe guns and kattas
- Modified semi-automatics
Quality and Precision
Shockingly, many of these weapons are:
- Durable
- Accurate up to 20–30 meters
- Nearly identical to factory-made guns
Some seized pistols even feature:
- Serial numbers engraved by hand
- Polished barrels
- Chrome-finished bodies
making them difficult to distinguish without forensic inspection.
Demand for Illegal Guns in Urban Crime Circles
Why Criminal Gangs Prefer MP-Made Guns
- Affordable pricing
- Easy availability
- No documentation
- Quick delivery
- Customization on request
These factors have made MP’s illegal firearms a staple in:
- Gang wars
- Extortion rackets
- Property disputes
- Political intimidation
- Highway robbery
- Sand mafia operations
Interstate Crime Syndicates and Their Modus Operandi
Layered Supply Chain
- Manufacturers – village workshops
- Middlemen – transport handlers
- State-level distributors – based in MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
- Local suppliers – delivering weapons to gangs
- End users – contract killers, extortionists, small-time criminals
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Cryptocurrency
- Hawala networks
- Digital wallets under fake identities
Impact on Public Safety in Pune
Rising Violent Crimes
Illegal firearms have led to a surge in:
- Shootings
- Threat-based extortion
- Enforcer activity by gangs
- Road-rage escalations
Fear Among Residents
Pune, traditionally seen as a peaceful city, is now witnessing incidents previously rare in its urban fabric.
Law Enforcement Countermeasures
State-Wide Crackdown Plans
Authorities in Maharashtra and MP are preparing:
- Multi-agency raids across border regions
- Crackdown on transporters involved
- Electronic surveillance of known suspects
- Arrest of local Pune distributors
Special Task Force Formation
A joint Maharashtra–MP STF is being proposed to dismantle the entire network.
Why Illegal Arms Networks Are Hard to Eliminate
- Village residents rely on this trade for livelihood
- Production techniques are simple and replicable
- Strong political patronage in some belts
- Buyers are plentiful and demand remains high
The Road Ahead: Long-Term Solutions
Economic Rehabilitation
Providing villagers with legitimate employment alternatives is vital.
Stronger Intelligence Sharing
State police must synchronize data on:
- Frequent offenders
- Recovered weapons
- Ballistic signatures
- Transport routes
Technological Integration
Use of AI-driven crime mapping, drone surveillance, and shot detection systems can help monitor urban hotspots.
Conclusion
The revelation that Pune’s firing cases are linked to a village producing over 700 illegal guns exposes the scale of India’s shadow arms economy. It underscores how deeply intertwined urban crime is with rural manufacturing hubs operating beyond policing radar.
As Pune Police intensify their crackdown, the case highlights an urgent need for coordinated interstate efforts, intelligence-driven policing, and socio-economic reforms to uproot the foundations of this illicit trade. The battle is far from over — but this breakthrough marks a major step toward dismantling one of India’s most entrenched illegal weapons networks.
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