In Buldhana, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) apprehended Shubham Pawar, a 22-year-old from Wardha district, Maharashtra, seizing a cache of weapons and ammunition. Acting on intelligence, the ATS team set a trap in Pimpri Koli village, leading to the recovery of two pistols, four magazines, and 92 live cartridges from Pawar. The operation took place when Pawar arrived at his relatives’ residence in the village between 1:00 A.M. and 1:30 A.M.
The recovered items point to a suspected illegal arms supply network in the region, with indications that Pawar was en route to sell the weapons. A case under relevant Arms Act sections has been filed at Raipur Police Station, with ongoing investigations by the ATS and local police to uncover the source of the weapons and potential accomplices. Authorities suggest more arrests are probable as the probe advances, focusing on potential interstate connections to the illicit arms supply chain.
The ATS action has raised concerns in the district as efforts persist to dismantle organized trafficking networks dealing in firearms and ammunition. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra ATS interrogated 57 individuals across the state in a crackdown on Pakistan-based gangster networks like the Shahzad Bhatti gang and the Dogra gang. Coordinated raids spanned various locations in Maharashtra, part of broader efforts to disrupt alleged gangster-linked networks and identify individuals associated with these groups.
