A national-level shooting champion has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to criminals in NCR and Uttar Pradesh.
The police suspect that of the 5,000 cartridges purportedly recovered from 35-year-old Mukarram Ali Khan, some were issued by the concerned sports association for his shooting practice but, instead, he sold them off in the grey market.
Khan, a resident of Pul Prahladpur, procured ammunition from another shooter named Akshay who has an even better record than him, said the police.
“A haul of 5,000 cartridges of .22 bore, 500 hollow point, 30 empty cartridges of prohibited 9 MM and 33 empty cartridges of .325 bore have been recovered from his possession,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P.S. Kushwah.
For the past some time, the police had been keeping a watch on the supply of ammunition and had conducted an in-house study that the ammunitions, unlike arms which are sourced from distant areas, were supplied from the Capital or nearby UP teams. The inspector duo of Manoj Dixit and Shiv Kumar had developed an informer network in these areas, said Mr. Kushwah.
On Monday, the police were informed that a huge consignment of illegal ammunition will be supplied near Kalindi Kunj Barrage. On this information, a trap was laid near Kalindi Kunj.
At 3.10 p.m., Khan arrived there in a Mahindra Scorpio SUV. A thorough search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery.
“He intended to sell the recovered illegal ammunition to a man named Sonu and Mehandi,” Kushwah added.
Khan used to purchase the cartridges of .22 bore and .22 hollow point cartridges at Rs.20 and Rs.50 per cartridge respectively and sell to Sonu and Mehandi for Rs.30 and Rs.60 per cartridge respectively.
However, when the police checked his background, he turned out to be a shooter who has performed well in several competitions at various levels.
“In 2012, he took up shotgun shooting as a sport as he was living in close vicinity to Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad. In 2013, Khan competed in the 33rd North Zone Shooting Championship held at Delhi and won the silver medal in double trap at Delhi State level,” said Mr. Kushwah.
He also participated in the 29th Delhi State Shooting Championship in 2013 and secured second position in double trap.
“Through his friend Naushad, Khan came in contact with Muzaffarnagar-resident Mehandi who indulged in supply of illegal firearms and ammunition. His antecedents are being verified,” Mr. Kushwah added.
