Dumka: Teams of Jharkhand Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police on Thursday unearthed an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Sahibganj district. More than a dozen semi-finished firearms, along with sophisticated weapon-making machinery, were seized in the raid which was conducted under Ranga police station limits.The factory was operating from a house near Kendua Aamgachhi Eidgah. Its location was provided by a suspected criminal who was arrested in Patna a few days ago, sources in the police said. The raiding team broke open four locks to enter the house. Inside, officers discovered a fully equipped illegal firearm manufacturing setup, including multiple lathe machines, metal melting equipment and modern tools used in the production of country-made pistols. However, no one was at the house at the time of the raid.During the search operation, police seized around 16 semi-finished pistols, magazines and a large quantity of raw materials and equipment used for manufacturing illegal firearms suggesting the factory was part of a larger inter-state illegal arms supply network.“Locals reported suspicious activities at the house. They also said outsiders had recently bought land and settled in the locality,” a police source said. Though the owner of the house was not identified, sources said it was owned by a man from Bihar, who is known as Vakil, and is absconding.Confirming the action, Ranga police station Akhilesh Yadav said, “The action was carried out based on the leads provided by some criminals arrested in Bihar. Further investigation is on to uncover entire network and supply chain.” An FIR was registered with the Ranga police station, Yadav said.
