Nagpur: In a late-night operation, Ajni Police arrested two individuals for illegally possessing a Mauser pistol and live cartridges, thwarting a potential criminal act. The police team was conducting routine night patrolling between 1.30 am and 4.40 am on Saturday when they received a tip-off about a man keeping a firearm at his residence in Vasant Nagar.

Acting on the information, police raided the location and detained Ritik Parmeshwar Mane (24), a resident of Kunjilal Peth, behind Manavata School, Ajni. A search of his residence led to the recovery of one Mauser pistol and three live cartridges concealed in a plastic bag inside an iron cupboard.

During interrogation, Mane revealed that the weapon and ammunition belonged to his associate Rohit Sudesh Ramteke (35), a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, Ajni. Police seized the firearm and cartridges, collectively worth ₹71,500, and booked both accused under Sections 3/25 of the Arms Act and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for illegal possession of a weapon and violation of prohibitory orders.

The accused were arrested, and further investigation is underway to determine the intended use of the firearm.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Rashmita Rao and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ajni Division) Narendra Hivare, led by PI Nitinchandra Rajkumar, PSI Siddhant Maske, and the team comprising Prithi Patle, Santosh Nallawar, Rahul Shinde, Atul, and Reshma Shaikh.