JAMMU, Nov 17: The police in Maharashtra, along with Military Intelligence and the Army, have apprehended nine individuals from the border district of Rajouri. They were found attempting to secure jobs as security guards in various cities across Maharashtra while allegedly carrying weapons for which they held counterfeit licenses. Authorities recovered nine 12-bore rifles and 58 rounds of ammunition from them.
The arrests were made during a collaborative operation involving Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) police in Maharashtra, the Southern Command, and Military Intelligence, following a tip-off regarding individuals from Rajouri district in Jammu who may have obtained jobs using fraudulent licenses, which could endanger security.
However, early investigations by the police have not revealed any connection to terrorism. Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hasan from Kalakote in Rajouri district has emerged as the primary suspect and alleged facilitator behind the fake firearms license scheme, according to reports from the police in Maharashtra. He is said to have issued forged licenses and supplied rifles acquired from Jammu and Kashmir to job seekers as security guards, charging each person Rs 50,000, the reports indicate.
Investigators noted that they have yet to establish any involvement of the detained individuals in supposed anti-national actions or links to any terrorist organization, although they are exploring all possible leads. “This situation is concerning, as the weapons and ammunition originate from J&K. We need to trace the exact source of the firearms and identify their clientele in Maharashtra. While we haven’t found significant evidence to confirm the nine men’s participation in arms dealing, we cannot dismiss the possibility,” officials quoted in Maharashtra stated.
While the Maharashtra police have previously uncovered illegal arms trafficking from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, this is the first instance of another route and Union Territory emerging in investigations affected by militancy, according to reports. “We must determine whether this represents a well-organized network or a basic scheme to make quick money,” remarked police officials in Ahilyanagar.
The individuals arrested have been named as Shabbir Mohammad Gujjar (38) from Dalori, currently living in Ganesh Tamping, Nagapur, Ahilyanagar; Mohammad Salim alias Saleem Gul (32) from Laha, Thannamandi, presently also a resident of Ganesh Tamping, Nagapur, Ahilyanagar; Mohammad Safraz (24) from Kotiyan, Kalakote; currently residing at Kohinoor Ginning, Ghogargaon, Ahilyanagar; Jahangir Zakir (28) from Adgi/Dangri; also a resident of Ganesh Tamping, Nagapur, Ahilyanagar; Shahbaz Ahmed (33) from Kotiyan, Kalakot; currently living near Merchant Bank, Shrigonda, Ahilyanagar; Surjeet Rameshchandra Singh from Sialsui; residing near Merchant Bank, Sonai, Nevasa, Ahilyanagar; Abdul Rashid Chidiya (38) from Som, Kalakote, living at a branch of Merchant Bank in Pune; Tufail Ahmed from Modhla, Kalakote, currently residing at PDC Bank Branch, Market Yard, Swargate, Pune; and Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hassan, also from Rajouri, residing in Pune.
Sources revealed that the Maharashtra police have sent letters to the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to verify the authenticity of the weapon licenses, and raids were conducted after confirmation that the licenses were indeed fake. The arrested individuals were employed as security guards in Shrigonda in Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, among other locations. A case has been filed at Tofkhana police station under the Arms Act, and further inquiries into the racket are ongoing. Previously, various security agencies in different states, including Rajasthan, have seized numerous fake arms licenses made in Jammu and Kashmir, involving some senior officials. The investigation is currently being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
