The Delhi Police have dismantled a large-scale clandestine arms manufacturing unit in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, arresting the alleged kingpin and his associate and recovering a cache of illegal firearms and tools, officials said on Saturday.
According to police, the operation led to the recovery of 18 illegal country-made pistols including rifles, firearm components, and a significant collection of manufacturing tools, which were buried underground near a lake in Bhima Pahari area of Dheeg.
Harsh Indora, Commissioner of Police (Crime), stated at a press conference that the gang’s alleged leader, Bilal (22), a native of Rajasthan, had been manufacturing and supplying single-shot pistols for the past two years to criminal networks operating across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Bilal, a school dropout, entered the arms manufacturing trade through his uncle in 2017 and took over the operations after his uncle’s death in 2018,” he said.
Over time, Bilal reportedly became a key arms supplier in the Mewat-Bharatpur region, eventually expanding his network to Delhi and NCR.
Notably, Bilal’s elder brother, Asgar, was arrested by the Special Cell Unit of the Delhi Police in 2020 in a similar case.
“Bilal emerged as a prime suspect behind the steady flow of weapons into the city in two separate cases, including one involving a gang that threatened truck drivers and extorted money from them,” the DCP added.
Based on gathered intelligence, police laid a trap in the Bamnoli area of Dwarka on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Bilal was apprehended while en route to deliver illegal weapons.
“Eight single-shot pistols were recovered from his possession, along with a stolen scooter. A fresh case under the Arms Act was registered, and Bilal was remanded to four days in police custody,” Indora said.
During sustained interrogation, Bilal revealed the location of his arms factory in Bhima Pahari, Dheeg. According to officials, manufacturing at the site had recently ceased due to flooding in the area.
A subsequent raid on Wednesday led to the recovery of two additional single-shot pistols, one semi-finished pistol, three rifle parts, and various arms manufacturing tools, including grinders, barrels, hammers, and metal plates.
Police described the facility as a fully functional illegal arms workshop capable of assembling and producing firearms at scale.
Bilal’s confession also led to the arrest of his associate, Sahil (25), a resident of Bharatpur. Two pistols were recovered from his possession. Sahil had allegedly assisted in sourcing buyers and managing logistics for Bilal’s illegal arms distribution network.
Earlier investigations into an extortion case had already resulted in the arrest of four individuals — Ravinder, Mustaq, Pawan, and Rahish — each found in possession of illegal pistols. Police confirmed that these firearms were supplied by Bilal through Rahish to various gang members.
Sahil, a Class 12 dropout with a history of substance abuse and a prior case of cheating, reportedly partnered with Bilal to expand their illegal trade. His primary role was to connect with potential arms buyers across the region.