Pune: 9 Persons from Jammu and Kashmir Arrested in Ahilyanagar for Using Fake Arms Licenses to Secure Security Guard Jobs

Pune/Ahilyanagar, 16th November 2024: In a joint operation, the Tofkhana Police Station and Southern Command Military Intelligence unit cracked an illegal arms and fake license racket operating in Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar). The authorities arrested nine individuals from Jammu and Kashmir and seized nine 12-bore rifles, 58 live cartridges, and several fake arms licenses.

The operation, conducted on 15th November, followed intelligence that individuals from Jammu and Kashmir were working as security guards in Ahilyanagar and nearby areas using forged documents. Raids were carried out at multiple locations, leading to the apprehension of nine suspects from Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the arms licenses presented by the accused were forged. Upon verification with the Rajouri District Collector’s Office in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed that the seized licenses had not been issued by their office, confirming them as fake.

Further investigation pointed to Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hasan of Kalakot, Rajouri, as the key facilitator of the racket. He allegedly provided fake arms licenses and 12-bore rifles to individuals seeking employment as security guards, charging ₹50,000 per license and weapon.

The arrested persons include:
1. Shabbir Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Gujjar – Resident of Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, temporarily residing in Ahilyanagar.
2. Mohammad Saleem alias Salem Gul Mohammad – Resident of Thanamandi, Rajouri.
3. Mohammad Safraj Nazir Hussain – Resident of Kalakot, Rajouri.
4. Jehangir Zakir Hussain – Resident of Rajouri.
5. Shahbaz Ahmed Nazir Hussain – Resident of Kalakot, Rajouri, currently in Srigonda.
6. Surjit Rameshchandra Singh – Resident of Sialsui, Rajouri.
7. Abdul Rashid Chidia – Resident of Kalakot, Rajouri.
8. Tufel Ahmed Mohammed Gazia – Resident of Moghla, Rajouri, currently in Pune.
9. Sher Ahmed Ghulam Hasan – The main accused, resident of Rajouri, temporarily based in Pune.

The suspects had been working as security guards at various locations in Pune, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shrigonda, and Sonai. Despite knowing the licenses were fake, they secured employment using these forged documents and illegally possessed firearms.

A case has been registered at Tofkhana Police Station in Ahilyanagar. Police Inspector Anand Kokre is leading the investigation. Authorities are now focusing on tracing the origins of the fake licenses and identifying others involved in the racket.

The action was taken under the guidance of the Army’s Southern Command Military Intelligence unit and Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Ola, Additional Superintendent of Police, Prashant Khaire, Sub Divisional Police Officer Amol Bharti. The team included PI Anand Kokere, PSI Shailesh Patil, Head Constables Dattatray Jape, Sunil Shirsat, Ahmed Inamdar, Bhanudas Khedkar, Yogesh Chavan, Ganesh Dhotre, Sudhir Khade, Suraj Wable, Police Naik Wasim Pathan, Constables Sumit Gawli, Shirish Tarte, Satish Tribhuvan, Dattatray Kotkar, Balasaheb Bhapse, Satish Bhawar, Rahul Mhaske and Sandeep Girhe.