Ahmedabad: Two held with country-made pistol near Vastrapur lake

Ahmedabad: Vastrapur police arrested two youths and seized a countrymade pistol, three live cartridges and a motorcycle during a late-night patrol near Vastrapur lake on Sunday.The arrests were made after police received a tip-off that two motorcycle-borne men were spotted with firearms near the govt outpost behind the ground near GMDC. Acting on the information, a police team reached the spot and laid a trap with the help of independent witnesses. The suspects were intercepted and detained for questioning.Police identified the accused as Rohit Rabari, 21, a resident of Thaltej, and Nishant Rawal, 23, a resident of Jadavnagar in Memnagar.Police said three live 8mm cartridges were recovered from Rabari, while a countrymade pistol was found concealed in Rawal’s waistband.The firearm had a barrel about 10.5 cm long and a wooden grip wrapped with cord, police said. The three live cartridges bore markings indicating they were 8mm rounds.Two mobile phones and the motorcycle were also seized, with the total value of the recovered items estimated at Rs 35,300.An FIR filed by an assistant sub-inspector stated the accused failed to produce any licence or permit for the weapon or ammunition. The pistol and cartridges were sealed and sent for forensic examination.Police are now probing the source of the firearm and whether the accused had intended to use it in any criminal activity.The cops are also examining the backgrounds of the two men and checking their mobile phones to determine if they have links to any criminal network or previous offences. A case has been registered under the provisions of the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway into the firearm’s source and possible criminal intent.