The Triplicane police on Wednesday busted a gang involved in illegal gun sale on Wallajah Road and arrested four persons, and also seized a 7.65 mm pistol. The police have launched a manhunt for the main dealer and an advocate who acted as a mediator.
The Organised Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) received a tip-off about an alleged illegal gun trade in the city.
The OCIU officers mounted surveillance across the State and one of its officers was deployed as a decoy to nab the gang.
Policeman posed as buyer
As per the plan, the officer approached Maduranthakam Kumar in Sathuragiri Hill. Introducing himself as Santhosh kumar, the officer wanted to buy a gun for self-protection. Kumar initially hesitated to strike the deal but was convinced by the officer. Stating that he would not involve directly in the trade, Kumar said he would arrange the gun through his friends in Chennai.
Kumar negotiated the price for over a week and in the end, he and his friends agreed to come with the weapon at a place near a hotel on Ellis Road, Triplicane. The information was passed by OCIU officers to the city police.
At he scheduled time on Tuesday night, the gang arrived with the illegal weapon and bullets and demanded ₹5 lakh. By that time, Triplicane police personnel led by Inspector S. Prabu, reached the spot and rounded them up.
Murugan, 52, a DMK functionary of Anna Nagar, Kumar, 52, and Prakash, 32, of Madhuranthagam and Gopinath, 25, of Thiru Vi. Ka Nagar were arrested. A 7.65 mm pistol and seven bullets were seized from the accused.
“During interrogation, the gang told us that Arjun, the main dealer, had handed over the gun through a mediator, who is an advocate. We have booked a case against six persons under the Arms Act and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code. We have launched a manhunt to nab the kingpin and the mediator,” said Inspector Prabu.
The accused were produced before a metropolitan magistrate court and lodged in Central Prison, Puzhal.
The gun was not made in India but police were not able to identify the origin of the country it might have come from. The weapon has been sent to ballistics experts for examination, an official said.
