Lucknow: STF nabs arms supplier, seven modern pistols seized

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh STF recovered as many as seven sophisticated .32 bore pistols from Bazaarkhala area of the city on Sunday.
STF also arrested a man, Arif of Naka Hindola, who used to supply pistols manufactured in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh for Rs 40,000 each.
A cache of .32 bore pistols
Inspector general of police (STF) Amitabh Yash said, "Arif disclosed that he supplied arms to Umar of Maulviganj and Ijaz of Pandeyganj areas of Lucknow.Cops also recovered nine magazines, a cell phone, an Aadhaar card from Arif's possession."
Yash said Arif told cops that the pistols were bought from Raju and Mohan of Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. He used to purchase pistols for Rs 15,000-20,000 each and sold them in Lucknow and neighbouring districts. DySP (STF) Parmesh Shukla, who carried out the raid, said Arif was involved in the trade of illegal guns since 2015.
"In 2017, we had arrested Arif from Mahanagar and recovered 10 sophisticated pistols from him. He was sent to jail, but got bail," said Shukla. Arif confessed to have sold 70 pistols in Lucknow since 2015.
Another officer privy to investigation said it Arif worked as an auto-rickshaw driver till he met one Rajiv Verma during his visit to Unnao in 2014. Rajiv introduced him to an illegal arms' trader Malhu, who revealed that he bought pistols from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar and made Rs 5,000 in every deal and offered Arif to join the trade.