Investigations into the seizure of 18 imported Chinese weapons from Ferozepur-based arms dealer Vineet Dabar have led the Patiala police to the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Dabars accomplice Muzaffar Rehman,a Srinagar resident,was on Wednesday arrested in the valley in connection with the case. Muzaffar Rehman has been closely associated with Dabar for quite sometime and is considered to be an important module in the entire chain of the smuggling network, said a senior Punjab Police officer. According to sources,Dabars bank accounts led the police to an account opened in the name of Muzaffar Rehman. Dabars clients used to deposit the payment in the account in lieu of the weapons,which he used to smuggle into India and then sell with the help of fake documents and arms licenses. By tracing the account,the police reached Srinagar and arrested Rehman. Police added that the bank account was being operated by Rehmans relative,who is also a Srinagar resident. We are raiding hideouts of Rehmans relative,who is also involved in the racket. We hope to arrest him soon, an police officer said. Rehman,who was produced before the judicial magistrate in the local court in Srinagar,will be brought to Patiala by Thursday evening on transit remand. The Patiala police will seek his custody from a local court for further interrogation. Last week,police had arrested Dabar with 18 Made in China pistols and mousers. Dabar was booked on charges of cheating,fraud,forgery,criminal conspiracy besides provisions punishable under the Arms Act. Dabar,who has a tainted past also figured as an accused in the infamous fake arms licenses racket unearthed by the CBI between 2002-2004.
