In a major crackdown on a fake gun license racket, Maharashtra security agencies arrested nine individuals from Jammu and Kashmir for using forged documents to secure employment as security guards. The arrests were made following a joint operation by the Military Intelligence Unit of Southern Command, Pune, and the Tof Khana Police Unit of Maharashtra Police.
The operation, which targeted multiple locations in Ahilyanagar and nearby areas, led to the seizure of nine 12-bore rifles and 58 live cartridges. The main accused, Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hasan, a resident of Kalakote, Rajouri, is believed to have acted as the key facilitator in the racket, providing fake licenses and rifles to individuals seeking security jobs for Rs 50,000 each.
The arrested individuals include:
- Shabbir Mohammad Iqbal Hussain
- Mohammad Sarfraz Nazir Hussain
- Jehangir Zakir Hussain
- Shahbaz Ahmed Nazir Hussain
- Surjit Rameshchandra Singh
- Abdul Rashid Chidia
- Tufel Ahmed Mohammed Gazia
These individuals had been working as security guards at various locations, including Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, Srigonda, and Sonai. Despite being aware that their arms licenses were forged, they continued to perform security duties, deceiving their employers and the public.
A case has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including fraud and forgery, as well as violations of the Arms Act. The authorities are continuing their investigation into the illegal arms trade and other individuals involved in the racket.