On Wednesday, police in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, successfully dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing operation located in Khardoni village. The operation was a joint effort by the Incholi police station and a SWAT team, resulting in the arrest of four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, Imran. This individual has a criminal history, having previously served time for operating a similar factory 25 years ago. The police discovered that the illegal unit was concealed within a house in a forested area, featuring a secret basement designed to evade detection.

Among the arrested was Umang Thakur, a 19-year-old BCA student, who allegedly managed the supply chain for the firearms. Police recovered a significant quantity of illegal weapons, including one semi-finished and two fully assembled country-made pistols. Each pistol was manufactured at a cost of approximately ₹4,000 (roughly $48 USD) and sold for up to ₹6,000 (approximately $72 USD). The gang is believed to have trafficked firearms to various states, including Punjab and Haryana. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover other members of the network and anticipate further arrests.