UP man held with firearms

The Vikroli unit of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested a building material supplier, Mohammed Irshad Halwai (29), for possession of arms after a tip-off.

The Vikroli unit of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested a building material supplier, Mohammed Irshad Halwai (29), for possession of arms after a tip-off.

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“A team led by Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Doiphode arrested Halwai from Shivaji Nagar and recovered five weapons from him,” Deputy Police Commissioner Pradeep Sawant said. Twelve cartridges were also recovered from him.

“The fire arms are of very good quality,” added Sawant.

The seized firearms include two high-quality pistols, two revolvers and a country-made gun, ATS officials said.

The unit also seized two magazines from Halwai. Sources said the country-made gun had a better barrel than what is generally found.

“It is stronger and the finish is better than the arms we have seen,” the source said.

The police said Halwai is from Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh and lives in Lucknow.

The ATS will try to get more information about him from the local police. Sawant said Halwai was in the city to deliver weapons to someone.

“We are tracking the person whom Halwai was to meet but as of now we cannot disclose his identity,” Sawant said.

Sawant said Halwai had been staying in Mumbai for the last one week. “We will check if he has any links to the underworld,” he said.

Police are also inspecting the place where Halwai stayed. He has visited the city twice previously and the ATS is yet to find out if he brought arms wit him then as well.

Halwai has been remanded to police custody till May 26.