The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested Saukatali Chotukhan, the alleged mastermind of a wide-ranging fake firearm licence racket, from Nagaland, Ahmedabad Mirror reported on Sunday.
Chotukhan, who operates a gun shop in Nuh, Haryana, allegedly exploited expired gun licenses by manipulating them with forged documents and supplying them to individuals seeking firearm permits in Gujarat. He was brought to Gujarat on a transit warrant.
In addition to Chotukhan, the ATS arrested 16 others accused of purchasing weapons using the forged licences. Those arrested have been identified as Gopi Jograna, Varjang Mir, Digesh Shabad, Hari Jograna, Ramesh Varu, Mayur Sondla, Ashok Kalotra, Bharat Algotar, Nathu Bambhva, Umesh Aal, Rahul Algotar, Rupa Jograna, Jayesh Sariaya, Kanu Gamara, Piyush Desai, and Satish Gamara.
Authorities recovered four revolvers along with 141 live rounds, and four twelve-bore guns with 170 live rounds from the accused. Officials said that weapons registered under the names …of twelve of those arrested have been deposited at the Special Operation Group (SOG) office in Surendranagar district.
“So far 40 accused have been arrested in the case including the mastermind of the fake gun license scam,” said officials.
The arrests come against the backdrop of a larger investigation into what officials believe is a nationwide racket involving the forgery of arms licences from northeastern states, particularly Nagaland and Manipur, and the illegal procurement of weapons through a retail outlet in Haryana’s Nuh district.
Earlier on April 7, MT has reported that the Morbi Special Operations Group (SOG) had arrested eight individuals for allegedly obtaining weapon licences from Nagaland and Manipur under suspicious circumstances.
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The investigation pointed to the existence of a broader operation involving multiple states and forged documents originating from the northeastern region.
ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police SL Chaudhary stated that the police had received information that some individuals had paid large sums of money to purchase weapons from three individuals—identified as Shaukatali Chotekhan, Farooqali Chotekhan, and Asif—who ran a gun shop in Nuh, Haryana. These weapons were obtained on the basis of forged arms licences from Manipur and Nagaland.
Teams from the Detections of Crime Branch (DCB) of Surat City Police and Ahmedabad City Police were also involved in the probe. During investigation, the ATS found that at least 49 people had obtained illegal weapons through bogus arms licenses from the now arrested accused.
“During the investigation, it was found that the three accused who ran the gun shop in Nuh had been forging arms licenses of Nagaland and Manipur states for people living in Gujarat for the past six years for their financial gain,” said the statement.
This investigation sheds light on the growing concerns surrounding the misuse of gun licenses originating from northeastern states like Nagaland and Manipur, which may be contributing to illegal arms trading in other parts of India.