THREE KEY PLAYERS OF THE CARTELS, INCLUDING AN MP-BASED ARMS SUPPLIER, ARRESTED, THE ILLEGAL WEAPONS WERE BEING PROCURED FROM MP AND SUPPLIED TO GANGSTERS IN DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH, HARYANA, AND RAJASTHAN.
Face2News/New Delhi
The Special Cell/Northern Range team, led by Inspr. Vivekanand Pathak and Inspr. Kuldeep Singh, under the supervision of ACP/NR, Spl. Cell Shri Rahul Kumar Singh, and Sh. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, DCP/NR & STF, Spl. Cell has busted two interstate illegal firearms supply cartels by arresting three of their key members, namely Subhash Warkade @ Subu s/o Fule Singh Warkade r/o Betul, MP (age 31 years), Abdul Kalam s/o Abdul Salam r/o Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (age 25 years) and Deepak Barela s/o Prem Barela r/o Burhanpur, MP (age 24 years)
During the month-long operation, 30 semi-automatic pistols were recovered from the possession of arrested accused persons. 10 semi-automatic pistols were recovered from Subhash Warkade @ Subu, whereas 15 semi-automatic pistols were recovered from Abdul Kalam. Further, five semi-automatic pistols were recovered from Deepak Barela. Several mobile handsets and SIM cards used in arms trafficking activities have also been recovered from them.
In order to control the increasing cases of the use of illegal firearms in various crimes in Delhi and adjoining states, Special Cell has launched a special drive against illegal arms suppliers in Delhi/NCR. In this process, the Northern Range of Special Cell was collecting information about gunrunners involved in supplying illegal firearms in Delhi/NCR and adjoining states. The continuous surveillance revealed that some firearms suppliers of UP are in touch with illegal firearms suppliers of Madhya Pradesh and procure illegal firearms from them. Accordingly, a secret and discreet watch was kept on the activities of such gunrunners.
OPERATION: In the first operation, the team of Inspr. Vivekanand Pathak and Inspr. Kuldeep Singh gathered information about the movement of arms traffickers through technical and manual surveillance. Thereafter, specific input was received, and on the basis of the same, a trap was laid near Nirankari Ground, Outer Ring Road, Delhi, and one member of the arms syndicate, namely Subhash Warkade, a resident of Betul, MP, was apprehended on November 1, 2023, when he reached there to deliver a huge consignment of illegal arms to his contact after procuring the same from MP. A total of 10 illegal semi-automatic pistols of .32 bore were recovered from the bag of accused Subhash Warkade. In this regard, a case under appropriate sections of law was registered at PS Special Cell, Delhi, and investigation was taken up.
In another operation, based on secret information, one person, namely Abdul Kalam, who was involved in the supply of illegal firearms, was apprehended near Millennium Park, Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi, at about 3:10 PM on November 25, when he arrived there to deliver a consignment of illegal arms to his contact after procuring the same from suppliers of MP.
The accused, Subhash Warkade, disclosed that he has been indulging in gunrunning for the last five years. He further disclosed that he had brought the consignment of illegal arms from one Satpal Jedu, a resident of Burhanpur, MP. The accused also divulged that he used to supply illegal weapons to various persons in MP, UP, and Delhi/NCR under the direction of one Rajesh, a resident of Betul, MP. He further revealed that he used to procure illegal pistols at Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 per pistol and further sell the same at Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 per pistol to various persons in Delhi and other states.
The accused was carrying a black bag, and on checking, 15 semi-automatic pistols wrapped in a bed sheet and concealed in a cavity in the voltage stabiliser were recovered. A case under appropriate sections of law was registered at PS Special Cell, Delhi, in this regard, and the accused was arrested. During the further course of investigation, on the instance of accused Abdul Kalam, a source of supply of illegal arms, namely Deepak Barela, was arrested from Dhar, MP, on November 28, 2023, and five semi-automatic pistols were recovered from his possession.
MODUS-OPERANDI AND GIST OF INTERROGATION: The accused, Subhash Warkade, disclosed that he has been indulging in gunrunning for the last five years. He further disclosed that he had brought the consignment of illegal arms from one Satpal Jedu, a resident of Burhanpur, MP. The accused also divulged that he used to supply illegal weapons to various persons in MP, UP, and Delhi/NCR under the direction of one Rajesh, a resident of Betul, MP. He further revealed that he used to procure illegal pistols at Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 per pistol and further sell the same at Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 per pistol to various persons in Delhi and other states.
The accused, Abdul Kalam, disclosed that he has been involved in procuring and supplying illegal firearms for the last two years. He used to procure weapons on the directions of Salauddin, a resident of Meerut, UP, and this time also, he had gone to Burhanpur, MP, on the directions of Salauddin and procured illegal firearms from one Deepak. Salauddin also directed him not to take his mobile phone with him while going to MP. The accused further revealed that, after collecting the consignment of firearms, he used to travel by train or bus. He also made a secret cavity in a voltage stabiliser for hiding weapons to dodge law enforcement agencies.
Accused Deepak Barela disclosed that he has been involved in supplying illegal firearms for the last two years. He used to procure illegal fire arms from different persons of nearby villages and further supply the same to various people in UP, including Salauddin, a resident of Meerut.
KNOW THE ACCUSED: Subhash Warkade hails from Betul, MP, and is a graduate. He is unmarried and belongs to a poor family. Due to his financial condition, he came into contact with criminals of the area, and in 2016, he was arrested in a case of robbery, lodged vide 681/2016 u/s 394 IPC in PS Kotwali, Betul, MP. After coming out of jail, he came into contact with one Rajesh and Rajesh lured him into supplying arms to his associates and contacts. On the direction of Rajesh, he used to procure illegal firearms from Satpal @ Jedu, MP, and supply the same to his contacts. He has been indulging in this for the last five years.
Abdul Kalam hails from Distt. Meerut, UP, and has studied up to 10th grade. He is unmarried and belongs to a poor family. Due to his poor financial condition, he came into contact with Salauddin, who lured him into the business of illegal arms supply. He would procure firearms from Deepak, a resident of Burhanpur, MP, on the directions of Salauddin. His father Abdul Salam was also indulged in illegal gunrunning and was arrested twice by the Special Cell, Delhi Police, in cases lodged vide FIR No. 54/13, PS Special Cell, and FIR No. 208/2020, PS Special Cell, Delhi.
Deepak Barela hails from Distt. Burhanpur, MP, and is illiterate. He is married and has three children. He comes from a poor family background. Due to his poor financial condition, he came into contact with certain people who manufacture illegal firearms. He started purchasing illegal arms from them and started supplying the same to various persons in UP, including Salauddin, through his carriers.