Ahmedabad: The Zone 7 Local Crime Branch arrested six individuals on Thursday who were found in possession of a cache of arms and ammunition. The LCB confiscated nine pistols, one revolver, sixty-one cartridges, and three magazines. Police have apprehended Shahnawaz Sheikh, Samir Pathan, Faran Khan Pathan, Uzer Khan Pathan, Zaid Khan Pathan, and Shah Rukh Khan Pathan. One more suspect is currently evading capture and a search operation is underway.

ACP S.D. Patel explained how the operation unfolded. According to him, acting on a tip from Tarun Duggal of Zone-7, ASI Ramanina, in charge of the LCB squad, informed his team about a man standing on Vijay Sales Road in front of Vasana Rajyash Complex opposite Juhapura, in possession of a pistol-like object and several other items. Acting on this information, they confronted the man.

Upon searching him and asking for his name, they found a locally made pistol and three live cartridges. The individual in question is Shahnawaz Sheikh, a resident of Vatva. Further investigation revealed that he had obtained the weapon from Samir Rashid Khan Pathan, residing in Farjanaba’s house in Vatva.

It was later determined that the weapon found with Shahnawaz was valued at around Rs. 25–50 thousand, and the other nine weapons were sourced from Aftab in Madhya Pradesh. Samir Pathan was responsible for moving these weapons. Out of which five weapons were found in the Jamalpur residence of Faran Khan Pathan during his investigation. Four other weapons were recovered from Uzer Khan Pathan and Zaid Khan Pathan. Zaid Khan had provided a pistol to Shahrukh Khan Pathan from Jamalpur. Aftab, one of the main wanted suspects hailing from Khergaon, Madhya Pradesh, remains at large.

In total, nine pistols, one revolver, 61 live cartridges, and three magazines were seized. It is suspected that these weapons were concealed within food items and transported on buses. Further investigation is underway to determine whether these weapons were intended for sale or for use in causing terror during the Janmashti festival.

The investigation is focused on uncovering the intent behind bringing these weapons into the city. This incident follows a previous seizure of weapons in Ahmedabad, prompting authorities to investigate the motives of those arrested yesterday. All the accused have been arrested and booked under the Arms Act at Vasana Police Station. DeshGujarat