Firearm seller misfires, injures Nerul gym owner

NAVI MUMBAI: A 27-year-old man from Nerul suffered injuries on his right leg when he was allegedly being given demonstration by a illegal fire- arm seller on Tuesday night.

According to the police, Manoj Mhatre, who runs a gym in Nerul, had planned to purchase a firearm from an unidentified person and called him to sector 20 around 10.30 pm. As that person reached the spot, Mhatre asked him to give a demonstration on how to operate the firearm.

“The firearm, however, misfired and the bullet hit Mhatre’s right leg. Within a few minutes, the other person fled the spot with the firearm,” said Dhanraj Dayama, assistant commissioner of police (Turbhe division).

Mhatre was admitted to MGM hospital in Vashi by some of his friends and he is reportedly in a stable condition now.

“We have booked both of them under Indian Arms Act. Mhatre will be arrested as soon as he is discharged from the hospital. Our officials are also searching for the man who was selling the firearm and we hope to arrest him soon,” Dayama added.

Suresh Mengade, deputy commissioner of police (special branch) said, “Almost all the illegal firearms we seized in the past one year were manufactured in north Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Many of them were factory-made pistols.”

Police sources said it was not easy to find a clue about the manufacturers, as the weapons have tags such as ‘made in US’, ‘made in UK’ or ‘made in China’ on them.

“Even the weapons look very sophisticated and we too get confused. It is only after closely examining the weapons, can we know that those are not imported, but manufactured in UP and Bihar,” said another officer.

Almost all the illegal firearms we seized in the past one year were manufactured in north Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Many them were factory-made pistols. SURESH MENGADE, deputy commissioner of police