Rajkot: A routine vehicle check on the Chotila-Anandpur road has provided investigators with another crucial lead into what appears to be one of the biggest illegal firearms smuggling networks in the Saurashtra region, allegedly linked to a jailed supplier. The seizure of two country-made pistols and three live cartridges from a 20-year-old man on Saturday has strengthened the Rajkot police’s investigation into an alleged arms cartel that has already led to 14 arrests and the recovery of 31 illegal firearms over the past six days.The latest operation, carried out on July 18 by a team led by Rajkot Range DIG Nirlipt Rai, resulted in the arrest of Nrupendra Patgir from the Chotila police station area in Surendranagar district. Police also seized a mobile phone and a high-end SUV, taking the total value of the seized property to around Rs 21 lakh.During questioning, Patgir told investigators that he had purchased the two firearms from Jaysukh alias Jeso Vaghela, a resident of Bogharavadar village in Jasdan taluka of Rajkot district, who is currently lodged in Rajkot Central Jail in connection with another illegal arms case.Based on Patgir’s statement, sub-inspector Yogendrasinh Chudasama of the Rajkot Range DIG team registered an FIR under the Arms Act at Chotila police station against both Patgir and Jaysukh. This is the third Arms Act case registered against Jaysukh in the past week.The latest arrest came as the Rajkot City prevention of crime branch continued its operation against an alleged illegal arms network spread across Rajkot and the Saurashtra region, which police said was an organised supply chain catering to criminals.Speaking to TOI, Rai said sub-inspector B C Miyatra acted on a tip-off and intercepted Patgir was travelling in an SUV. A body search led to the recovery of a country-made pistol from Patgir, while another pistol was found hidden in the dashboard compartment of the SUV. Three live cartridges were recovered from the magazine of one of the firearms.“During interrogation, Patgir revealed that he had purchased the weapons from Jaysukh six months ago for Rs 95,000,” Rai said.Investigating officer Bharatkumar Diwan told TOI that the court remanded Patgir to two days’ police custody. “We are now trying to ascertain why Patgir purchased the weapons, whether they were intended for any crime, and if they had been used earlier,” Diwan said.Preliminary investigations indicate that Jaysukh allegedly procured the weapons from Shakil Mansuri, a resident of Mirzapur in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, before supplying them in Gujarat.Police records show that Jaysukh has six prohibition-related cases and three Arms Act cases registered against him. Investigators are now working to identify more buyers and suppliers linked to the alleged interstate arms network as the crackdown continues across the region.
