GUNRUNNER HELD WITH 14 PISTOLS

New Delhi: An alleged gunrunner was arrested near Sangam Vihar area in south Delhi and 14 “sophisticated” pistols were seized from him, the police said on Wednesday. Iqbal was arrested from M. B. Road on Monday evening after the police was tipped- off about his presence, Romil Baaniya, DCP ( South) said. “Iqbal’s search led to recovery of 14 sophisticated, .32 bore pistols, carried by him in a bag. A case was registered at the Sangam Vihar police station and investigation has been taken up,” Mr Baaniya said. The arrest came as part of a Delhi police investigation to bust illegal arms ring in Delhi- NCR. During interrogation, Iqbal told the police that he was introduced to the illegal arms ring by Mufeed, a resident of his native village in Mathura district. Iqbal admitted that he was sent by Mufeed to deliver the pistols to a contact in Delhi, the senior officer said. The accused was paid 1,000 for each illegally smuggled firearm, Mr Baaniya said. He visited Sendhwa city in Madhya Pradesh on Mufeed's orders, and there he bought guns from local contacts to supply them to criminals operating in Delhi- NCR, he added. “During interrogation, accused Iqbal disclosed that he came in contact with one Mufeed, hailing from his native village who roped him in supply of illegal arms in Delhi NCR. Accordingly, he joined Mufeed in crime and started working as carrier. He further disclosed that he used to procure illegal arms from Sendhwa, Madhya Pradesh,” the police added.