Inter-state arms deal busted

Sandesh Prabhudesai
10 January 2001  



Goa police today made a major breakthrough, busting inter-state gang involved in arms deal, by arresting 16 persons and 23 arms as well as ammunition, most of which are imported.

While it has proved their involvement in settling real estate disputes in the tourist state, the police is now further investigating into the connection of the arm dealers with several gangs outside the state.

Gurcharan Singh, the director general of police, did not rule out the development leading to major disclosures, but refused to reveal anything further in order not to hamper the investigation process.

"It is confirmed that Goa was being used as a trade centre for buying as well as selling arms and ammunition", said Karnal Singh, the state DIG. They are now planning to interact with their counterparts in other states, based on the clues they have received.

Stating that the arms contained only four country-made guns, he said the rest of it even included six hi-tech pen pistols and one telescopic gun, besides five revolvers, one rifle and three pistols.

The police got a lead after arresting one Joeboy from Panaji, who is allegedly involved in extortion and settling disputes illegally. Their accomplices, who were arrested later, includes even one doctor Sanjay Morajkar and arms repairer Bhalchandra Chari.

As surveillance in Goa has always been in a lenient manner since it is a peaceful state, the police suspect that the state was used as a transit point by several inter-state gangs for importing and exporting arms and ammunition.

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