New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested five individuals from the Pydhonie area for allegedly attempting to sell illegal firearms and ammunition without a valid licence, officials said.

In an official statement, the agency said, “Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested five persons from the Pydhonie area for allegedly attempting to sell 3 illegal firearms and 21 live cartridges without a valid license.” The arrests were made following a targeted operation based on specific intelligence inputs.

According to investigators, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Crime Branch received confidential information that a group would arrive in the area to conduct an illegal arms deal. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a police team conducted a raid at a hotel located on Narayan Dhuru Street in Pydhonie.

During the operation, five individuals were found at the location. A search led to the recovery of three pistols, along with three magazines and a total of 21 live cartridges. When questioned, the accused were unable to produce any valid license or documentation for the weapons. Police said the suspects allegedly admitted that they had brought the firearms for sale.

All five accused have been taken into custody and identified as Surendra Amarlalji Minna (25), Rohit Ghanshyam Mina (24), Kartik Bijander Parcha (19), Deepak Kumar Chitarmal Bil (26) and Ronuronak Pannalal Merotha (25). Officials stated that the accused are aged between 19 and 26 years and are natives of Rajasthan and Haryana.

A case has been registered at the Pydhonie Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Arms Act, including Sections 3 and 25, as well as Sections 37(1)(A) and 135.

The Crime Branch is also probing possible links between the accused and the Bishnoi gang. Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the weapons and whether the group is connected to a larger network involved in illegal arms trafficking.

–IANS

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