Varanasi: A Special Weapons and Tactics team and Kotwali police in Ghazipur district on Thursday arrested three interstate arms smugglers and recovered 38 firearms, including 19 pistols. During interrogation, the arrested trio confessed to their involvement in interstate arms trafficking and brought the weapons from Khandwa and Burhanpur areas of Madhya Pradesh for delivery in Ghazipur.Ghazipur SP Iraj Raja said the arrests were made near Kaithwalia culvert under Kotwali police station area around 1.45 am after police received a tip-off regarding movement of smugglers with a large consignment of illegal weapons for delivery. When SWAT and Kotwali police teams cordoned off the area and tried to intercept three men on a motorcycle, they tried to flee but were caught.During a search, police recovered 18 pistols of .32 bore with magazines, one 9mm pistol, 19 country-made firearms of .315 bore, cartridges, three mobile phones, cash of Rs 900 and a sports motorbike from the smugglers identified as Ratan Vishwakarma and Ravi Kumar, both 19 years old and residents of Bhadaura under Gahmar police station, and Abhishek Kumar (20) of Phulli under Dildarnagar police station area.Police said information about their other associates from whom they procured and to whom they supplied was being obtained for further action.
