Ahmedabad, July 6 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested three men from Uttar Pradesh and seized four illegal pistols, two live cartridges and a magazine during a special operation launched ahead of the city’s 149th Rath Yatra, officials said on Monday.
The accused were identified as Rohit Jadon, 20, of Indrayani village in Bah tehsil of Agra district, Bhola Tomar, 21, of Bhadroli village in Bah tehsil, and Shivam Sharma, 22, also of Bhadroli village in Agra district.
The arrests were made beneath the newly constructed Sarangpur bridge after the Crime Branch received specific intelligence while its teams were on patrol as part of a drive to detect illegal arms trafficking and maintain law and order during the upcoming Rath Yatra.
Police seized four pistols valued at Rs 1.70 lakh, two live cartridges worth Rs 200, one magazine worth Rs 200 and two mobile phones valued at Rs 10,000, taking the total value of the recovered property to Rs 1,80,400.
A case has been registered against the three accused under Sections 25(1-B)(A) and 29 of the Arms Act.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused told investigators that they had brought the pistols and cartridges from Uttar Pradesh to Ahmedabad to sell them.
Addressing the media, ACP (Crime) Bharat Patel said the Crime Branch had intensified surveillance across the city over the past month in view of Rath Yatra 2026.
“In view of the upcoming Rath Yatra 2026, the Crime Branch has been continuously patrolling the city for the past one month and actively working to detect illegal activities as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order and ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully,” Patel said.
He said the three accused, aged between 20 and 22 years, had travelled to Gujarat under the leadership of Rohit Jadon to sell the illegal weapons.
“During preliminary interrogation, all three accused stated that they had come to Gujarat under the leadership of accused No. 1, Rohit, to sell such weapons. Acting on information received through our source, the Crime Branch team apprehended all three with the illegal firearms,” he said.
According to Patel, investigators have also learnt during preliminary questioning that the weapons were allegedly meant to be transported from Ahmedabad to Mehsana and delivered to a man identified as Ashraf alias Asu Mulla, a resident of Visnagar Road in Mehsana, who had allegedly ordered them.
Police said efforts are under way to trace the alleged buyer. “The accused will be produced before the competent court to seek police remand for further investigation,” Patel added.
Police said Rohit Jadon admitted during questioning that he is wanted by Pinahat Police Station in Agra district under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators also said Rohit has multiple criminal cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh.
His criminal record includes a 2023 robbery and receiving stolen property case at Basouni Police Station under Sections 394 and 411 of the Indian Penal Code; a 2024 case at Bah Police Station under Sections 147, 148, 323, 504 and 506 of the IPC; a 2025 case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; and another 2025 case under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Patel said Uttar Pradesh Police had been informed about Rohit’s arrest, adding that he is wanted in one or more cases in his home state.
The investigation is continuing to establish the wider network involved in the alleged supply and intended distribution of the illegal firearms.
–IANS
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