A 45-year-old man was arrested for his involvement in selling illegal arms to criminals,police said on Thursday. The racket was operating from Mainpuri in UP and so far,ten fire arms have been recovered from his possession. Mohd Arif was apprehended from near Hyderpur Water Treatment Plant on Outer Ring Road on August 7 on a tip off,Sandeep Goel,Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime),said. He was part of a racket operating from Mainpuri,Goel said adding that two sophisticated pistols of .32 bore,a sophisticated revolver .32 bore,seven countrymade pistols of .315 bore and 45 cartridges were recovered. Arif told us that the firearms and ammunition had been provided to him by his associate Maksood. He also said that Arif revealed that he had been supplying firearms to Uttar Pradesh,Delhi and Haryana for the past two years, Goel said. The recipient was charged anything between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 35,000 for a .32 pistol and revolvers were priced at between Rs. 8000 and Rs. 10,000. the .315 bore countrymade pistol was sold for Rs 2,000. The bullets would cost between Rs 50 and Rs. 200. According to him the demand for illegal firearms has escalated in the past two years corresponding with the increase in real estate prices in the NCR region, Goel said. He has been found involved in at least 11 criminal cases in the past. His criminal involvements include criminal assault,attempt to murder,robbery and criminal intimidation. His associate Maksood known locally as 'Dr. Maksood runs a small medical store in Kindoli,Mainpuri. Maksood is the kingpin who arranges for all the firearms sold by Arif. He is presently absconding.
