Police on Thursday arrested four miscreants running a mini illegal arms factory 25km from the Gumla district headquarters, the discovery stoking fears that production of arms has become a cottage industry in the state.
The arms manufacturing factory was found at Koenjara Gazi Tola under Sadar police station of the district, around 100km from state capital Ranchi.
The breakthrough came in the morning after Gumla superintendent of police (SP) H.P. Janardanan got a tip-off informing about the illegal arms factory. He directed officials to take action immediately.
The informer told the SP that the firearms produced in the factory were sold to extremist organizations such as the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and other local criminals involved in a plethora of crimes including extortion.
“As police reached the village acting on the tip-off, they noticed four persons assembling the firearms and arrested them,” a police official said.
SP Janardanan confirmed the breakthrough.
“It was like a cottage industry,” he said when contacted on phone. “Those arrested are in the age group of 22 to 35.”
He hoped the factory being busted would dry up the supply of arms to local criminals.
Those arrested were identified as Sandeep Hazar, Ravi Sahu, Hari Gope and Kuldeep Rana.
Except Kuldeep, who is a resident of Lohardaga, the other three are residents of Gumla.
Arms recovered from their possession included two country-made rifles, two single-shot small firearms and six rounds of ammunition besides lath machines and other tools required for production of arms and ammunition.
'Blessed with nature’s beauty, Gumla is covered by dense forests, hills and rivers and thus sometimes criminals use the place for hiding here and doing some illegal activities,” a police official said. “Otherwise this district is known for having the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.”
Ticket arrest
Ranchi: Railway Protection Force on Thursday arrested Uday Kumar, who was running an illegal business of procuring and selling e-tickets by using his personal IDs at his shop, KK Infotech, at Vidya Nagar under Sukhdevnagar police station.
