Pune Police Uncover Interstate Illegal Arms Syndicate; Detain 36 After Major Madhya Pradesh Raid
Pune/Madhya Pradesh 22nd November 2025: In a sweeping action against organised crime, Pune City Police have dismantled a major interstate network involved in the illegal manufacture and distribution of firearms. The operation began with the seizure of 21 country-made pistols and ammunition from different parts of Pune and expanded into a multistate investigation that culminated in a large-scale raid in Madhya Pradesh, where 36 individuals were detained, informed Pune Police Joint Commissioner Ranjan Kumar Sharma.
The crackdown followed a series of targeted raids conducted over the past three weeks by units from the Airport Police Station, Kalepadal squad, Crime Branch, and the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC). The initial arms recovery led to the registration of a case at Airport Police Station, setting in motion a coordinated investigation across state borders.
Acting on intelligence gathered during questioning of earlier suspects, a team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde launched a pre-dawn operation in Umarati village in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh, 500 km from Pune.
The raid uncovered what police described as a fully functioning, clandestine weapons-manufacturing hub.
Key recoveries and actions included:
Detention of 36 suspects linked to arms production
Seizure of a large stock of fabricated weapons and essential components
Destruction of nearly 50 furnaces believed to be used for firearm crafting
Confiscation of machinery used for engraving pistol markings
The Madhya Pradesh operation involved high-end technical support and multiple specialised teams. Personnel from the Quick Response Team (QRT), wireless unit and CCTV surveillance wing were deployed. Mobile surveillance vans, body-worn cameras, bulletproof gear and other protective equipment ensured the raid was conducted with precision and operational security, Jt CP sharma added.
Investigators revealed that the seized weapons carried markings under the label “Umarati Shikalgar Arms (USA)”, a code name suspected to be used for distributing illegal firearms in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Police officials said each suspect will be booked according to their specific involvement in the criminal enterprise. The probe is ongoing, with authorities determined to dismantle the arms pipeline and identify additional links within the network.
The operation was successfully carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (Eastern Regional Division) Manoj Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-4) Somay Munde, Crime Branch Police Inspector Wahid Pathan, Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Naik, Assistant Police Inspector Madan Kamble, Assistant Police Inspector Kalyani Kasode, police personnel Pathan, Deshmukh, Karkhele, Mundhe, Pawar, Tabekar, Rokde, Ranpise, Mane, Kharat and Pansare.
