The investigation and disclosure of 150 kg of ammonium nitrate found on December 31 in Tonk, one of the sensitive districts of Rajasthan, was not yet fully completed when on Friday the Special Team (DST) of Tonk Police raided three places simultaneously in Tonk and Deoli, in which six swords, huge quantity of gunpowder and parts of illegal weapons along with gunpowder and potash were seized. Two people were arrested. Tonk Police is now interrogating the arrested people about the supply of gunpowder and sale of illegal weapons, but everyone is surprised as to how ammonium nitrate and gunpowder easily reach people.
On Friday (January 16), the DST team raided three places, including two places in Tonk and Deoli police station areas. They busted an illegal arms manufacturing factory, arrested two people with gunpowder and potash and seized six swords and a huge quantity of illegal arms parts. This included a large quantity of gunpowder, potash, gunpowder saltpeter, gunpowder, white gunpowder, iron bullets, gun triggers, gun butts, a large quantity of cap guns and parts for making illegal weapons.
These weapons were seized in the raid that took place in the heart of Tonk city.
About 2.5 kg gunpowder bullets, 400 bullets, 32 kg gunpowder, 32 kg potash, 55 kg gunpowder saltpeter, 44 kg white gunpowder, 200 pieces cordex wire, one air gun, 138 P-caps and 71 pieces gunpowder were seized. The accused Mohammad Atiq (65), son Alauddin, resident of Mohalla Shoragaran of Thana city, was arrested from the spot.
Items seized during the raid in Deoli included: 26 gun triggers, 35 gun plates, 163 gun heads, 840 gun caps, about 21 kg of gun powder, 21 gun holsters, two single-barrel guns, one double-barrel gun, six swords and ₹3,3,500 obtained through horse-trading. The accused Raju, son of late Narayan Lal (57), a blacksmith resident of Patwa Bazaar, was arrested.
DST in-charge Om Prakash Chaudhary said that the accused had initially claimed that these weapons were made for hunting animals, but it cannot be denied that people with criminal tendencies can also buy them and use them for crimes. After conducting the investigation, the team handed over the accused and the seized articles and weapons to the concerned police station for further investigation.
Amidst the action taken in the last two weeks in Tonk district regarding the recovery of ammonium nitrate, illegal gun powder and potash, the biggest question is whether some big conspiracy is being hatched in Tonk? Where are these weapons and weapon manufacturing factories coming from and how are they running and for how long? Are weapons easily available in Tonk? These burning questions have drawn lines of worry on people’s foreheads.
