Out of work, Munger gun makers shifting to NCR

New Delhi: With Munger under constant vigil for its infamous gun manufacturing factories by the security agencies and local police, there is evidence that crafty workers are shifting base to avoid detection. What is worrying the security agencies is the fact that they are moving closer to the capital.

The recent unearthing of an illegal weapons factory at Meerut by Special Cell has given teeth to the theory. Cell seized 84 weapons made by Munger workers in Delhi and Meerut. The arrested workers Shabir, Imtiaz and Obaid are all from Munger in Bihar and have moved to NCR in search of easy money and lower risk.

"Recently, it has come to notice that illegal arms manufacturers, in order to evade their apprehension, have set up firearm manufacturing factory in Meerut, UP and started manufacturing firearms by using the skilled labour and raw material brought from Munger, Bihar," said DCP Special Cell.

The recent cache of Ak-47 assault rifles recovered from Munger has shifted the focus of security agencies towards the Bihar district. This has led to constant raids, better intelligence networks and seizures of weapons from the district making it difficult for illegal weapon manufacturing units to operate.

"Any skilled manufacturer of illegal firearms like pistols gets around Rs 2,000 per weapon. They make atleast two sophisticated weapons a day making good money," said DCP Special Cell Sanjeev Yadav. Police said that to avoid detection the criminals involved in the gun racket, get the raw materials and get it assembled in Meerut.

The price of a sophisticated pistol varies from Rs 4,500 to RS 15,000 depending upon the quality of the product. The special cell is also widening its network to keep a tab on manufacturers and receivers of the illegal weapons.

In July 2013, the special cell of Delhi police had seized 99 illegal pistols, most of them were found stamped "Only for Army use", "Made in US" and "Made in Italy" but, all came from factories in Munger, Bihar.