Uttar Pradesh STF arrested five members of an illegal arms syndicate
The STF said its probe indicates that the syndicate supplied 100 to 150 illegal pistols in various districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh through a network of local associates. The arrests were made on Sep 15 from the Cantonment area of Gorakhpur. The operation led to the seizure of four .32-bore pistols with magazines, a .32-bore revolver and five live cartridges, besides two two-wheelers, two Android mobile phones and Rs 1,250 in cash. The syndicate members allegedly made profits of around Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 per pistol, depending on the transaction, according to the STF.
LUCKNOW: An interstate illegal arms syndicate allegedly used Instagram and other social media platforms to reach buyers and supply firearms across eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) said after arresting five suspected members of the network in Gorakhpur. The alleged syndicate had created a local distribution network covering districts including Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Maharajganj and Sant Kabir Nagar, according to the STF. STF said that social media platforms, particularly Instagram, were being used to connect with prospective buyers and facilitate the supply of illegal firearms. The agency said the network sourced weapons from Sendhua in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district and Sonipat in Haryana, before moving them into eastern Uttar Pradesh through local contacts. STF said Shashank Pandey, described as an associate of arrested accused Shreyansh Yadav alias Bablu, had allegedly been associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi gangs and had previously been jailed in Punjab in an arms-supply case. Investigators are verifying these connections and gathering further evidence, the agency said.
The arrested accused are Shreyansh Yadav alias Bablu, Ajit Yadav, Abhishek Gaur alias Bheli; Abhishek Prajapati alias Abhi; and Rahul Gupta. The STF is now examining digital evidence and other material to establish how the alleged social-media network operated and identify those who purchased or received the weapons. The STF has also claimed that Shreyansh Yadav had alleged links with the Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara gangs. The STF has also claimed that firearms supplied by the alleged syndicate surfaced in several previous criminal cases.
The STF and Gorakhpur Anti-Theft Cell are continuing to gather intelligence on the syndicate’s local network, with investigators focusing on its social-media contacts, alleged criminal-gang links, sources of weapons and network of buyer You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news.
A weapon used in the Raj Kumar Chauhan murder case in Gorakhnath was allegedly supplied by the network, according to the agency. The investigation has also brought alleged links with organised criminal networks under the STF’s scanner. It has also linked weapons recovered in Arms Act cases registered in Campierganj, Gorakhpur, and Khalilabad, Sant Kabir Nagar, to the syndicate. Download the TOI App.