23 illegal weapons factories have been discovered by Bihar Police in the past six months
Bihar Police have discovered 23 illegal minigun manufacturing units operating across different parts of the state, leading to the confiscation of a significant cache of weapons and ammunition over the past six months, according to a senior official.
G.S. Gangwar, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Bihar Police Headquarters, stated that during the initial half of this year, a total of 2,340 firearms were seized, including 46 conventional firearms. These confiscated weapons encompass both fully assembled firearms and partially manufactured ones.
In the course of raids conducted in various districts, Bihar Police also impounded 17,381 live cartridges. Gangwar emphasized that the police force remains vigilant in addressing these illegal firearms operations due to their direct link to the rise in crime rates.
Highlighting the recent developments, Gangwar reported that in 2021, a total of 61 mini gun factories were dismantled in Bihar, a number that dropped to 32 in 2022. However, the momentum has surged in the current year, with 23 mini gun factories being uncovered within the initial six months, exceeding the count for the same period in the previous year. This has resulted in the recovery of a higher number of illegal firearms and live cartridges.
Gangwar shared specific figures, stating that 3,951 firearms were seized in 2021, which increased to 4,288 in 2022. The number of conventional firearms confiscated stood at 30 in 2021 and 78 in 2022.
In terms of ammunition, Bihar Police seized 14,084 live cartridges in 2021 and 28,200 in 2022. During the first half of the current year, they have already confiscated 17,381 live cartridges.
The top police official cited specific instances of successful operations: the Lakhisarai police discovered a mini gun factory near the Salarpur cremation ground under the Mehndi Chowki police station on July 18. Similarly, the Bhagalpur police dismantled a mini gun factory on July 19 in Ustu village under the Lodipur police station. Lastly, on July 19, the Gaya police uncovered a mini gun factory in Sheikhbigaha village under the jurisdiction of the Bela police station in the Gaya district.
