Nagpur: In a major crackdown on illegal arms possession, the Crime Branch Unit-2 of Nagpur City Police arrested a 19-year-old youth from Hasanbag area and seized a country-made pistol along with live cartridges worth Rs 52,000.

According to police, between 7.45 pm on May 9 and 1.40 am on May 10, Crime Branch officials were patrolling in search of criminals when they received specific information that accused Ameen alias Patel Salim Khan, a resident of Hasanbag in Nandanvan, was illegally possessing a firearm at his residence.

Acting on the tip-off, the police team raided the accused’s house near Guddu Haji’s residence at Plot No. 242 in Hasanbag under the jurisdiction of Nandanvan Police Station. During the search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, police recovered a silver-and-black country-made pistol with a magazine and two live cartridges from the accused’s possession.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that the weapon had been procured with the help of his absconding associate Wasim Chira (45), a resident near the crematorium ground in Shantinagar, Nagpur.

Police seized the firearm and ammunition collectively valued at Rs 52,000 and arrested the accused. He was later handed over to Nandanvan Police Station for further legal action.

The absconding accused is currently being traced and further investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singaland senior officers of the Crime Branch by Inspector Shubhangi Deshmukh and her team.