Solapur Police Crackdown: 17 Country-Made Pistols and 47 Live Cartridges Seized

Akluj, Maharashtra — In a major operation, Solapur Police have busted an illegal interstate firearms trafficking network operating across Solapur, Sangli and Satara districts. Within just five days, eight suspects were arrested and 17 country-made pistols, 47 live cartridges and a car were seized. The total value of the seized items runs into several lakhs of rupees.This operation was carried out by the team of Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni.

Acting on a tip-off received by Police Head Constable Shriram Pore, Akluj Police laid a trap near Patange Mutton Hotel on the Akluj–Tembhurni Road (Sangam, Malshiras taluka). 

They intercepted Vikas Kailas Wajale  a resident of Parite in Madha taluka and an accused in a murder case. He had come to sell an illegal firearm.

During interrogation, Wajale revealed that the weapon had been supplied by Rahul Satish Mane, a resident  in Miraj (Sangli district). Police recovered six pistols from Mane. Further investigation showed that Mane had sold illegal firearms to several others, all of whom were subsequently arrested:Shani Bharat Bansode,
Mahadev Balasaheb Korke,
Pradip Pandurang Mane (Chikmahud, Sangola)  
Vijay Sadashiv Kirangi (Shivnur, Athani, Karnataka)  
Sumit Nana Lavute (Bhuite Vasti, Sangola)

Rahul Mane was procuring the unlicensed firearms from Anil Panchlal Mehta of Madhya Pradesh. A joint team of the Superintendent of Police’s Special Squad and Akluj Police tracked Mehta down and arrested him in Dhule, recovering four more pistols from him.

Mehta used to buy the weapons cheaply from Atni village in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh and supply them through criminal networks into Maharashtra. Mane then resold them in Solapur, Sangli and Satara districts for ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 each.

Among the 17 pistols, four are “Jigna” pistols.

 Police officials stated that a distinctive feature of these weapons is their ability to produce a simultaneous blast and fire nine rounds at once.The court has remanded all the accused in police custody until 21 August.

Commendation

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni, Additional Superintendents of Police Vijay Kabade and Prerna Katte, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Walke.  The core team was led by Akluj Police Inspector Niraj Ubale, Assistant Police Inspectors Vikram Salunkhe and Ankush Waghmode, and Police Sub-Inspector Vishal Kadam, along with personnel from the local police station and the SP’s special squad. The police department has announced that the team will be honoured with a special award for this swift and effective action.