New Delhi: The Delhi police has arrested an alleged arms manufacturer and supplier carrying a reward of Rs one lakh for his apprehension.
The accused, Richhpal Singh (48), was arrested on May 8 from north Delhi’s Burari after a brief scuffle, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).
Police have seized 11 pistols and 14 live cartridges from him. The Delhi Police had declared a reward of Rs one lakh for his arrest.
The officer said that Singh is involved in more than 10 cases of Arms Act, Explosive Substance Act, murder, attempt to murder, and dacoity in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra among others.
He was also wanted in four cases of Arms Act registered by the Special Cell here.
He has links with Maoists in Telangana since he used to supply arms and ammunition including hand grenades to them, said the officer.
Singh had supplied three pistols, 28 live cartridges and two country-made hand grenades to Maoists of CPI(ML) Praja Prathigatane faction in 2006 and he was arrested along with two others in that case, he added.
The Special Cell has been tracking suppliers of illegal firearms in Delhi and has found that illegal weapons are pumped into the national capital from Khargone, Dhar and Burhanpur (MP) and Munger (Bihar).
In the last six months, the Special Cell busted four different modules of illegal arms racket led by Singh, arrested seven associates and recovered 117 semi-automatic pistols, one carbine along with ammunition, said the officer.
Even after the arrest of his associates, Singh continued his business. Several raids were conducted at possible hideouts of Singh in MP but he was not found.
Police received a tip-off about him coming to Delhi to supply pistols to his contact. He was nabbed from near Nirankari Samagam Road, Burari, on May 8 around 12.45 PM.
When the police team tried to nab him, he whipped out his pistol and fired at them.
Singh has been involved in this trade for more than 30 years. In 2006, he was arrested for supplying weapons to Maoists, and was later granted bail.
He did not attend court after that and was declared a proclaimed offender.
Singh told police that it costs him Rs 3,000 to manufacture a pistol and he supplies these pistols in bulk at Rs 10,000 per pistol.
Pistols supplied by him in Delhi are further supplied to dreaded criminals of Delhi and adjoining states at Rs 25,000 per piece.
—PTI