Bijnor: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Bijnor police busted an illegal arms-making facility here and arrested a criminal from the spot, while his accomplice escaped under cover of darkness. This is the second such factory busted in Bijnor in March. Prior to elections, the demand for illegal arms soars and this is why routine checks are being done to ensure that such factories do not operate here, said police.Addressing a press conference, Bijnor superintendent of police, Sanjeev Tyagi said, “Police got a tip-off that two criminals were running an illegal arms-making factory close to Dhampur city on Nagina road. Police raided the place on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. The factory was operating in a dilapidated building in a mango orchard. When police cordoned off the orchard, the criminals opened fire on the team. Police arrested one Waseem alias Galkata of Bandookchiyan Mohalla in Dhampur while his accomplice, identified as Furkan alias Ajju, also of Dhampur, escaped from the scene.”“Police have recovered four country-made pistols of .12 calibre, three cartridges, raw materials, drilling and grinding machines and other equipment used in making illegal arms from the spot. Police are on the hunt for the absconding criminal,” Tyagi said.“Both the men are hardcore criminals and history sheeters. There are 17 cases including robbery, murder and attempt to murder against Waseem while 20 cases are against Furkan in Delhi, Uttarakhand as well as Moradabad and Bijnor districts. Waseem was earlier expelled from the district for his criminal activities. They had struck terror in the heart of people, who have now heaved a sigh of relief,” the SP added.According to police, Waseem told them that with advent of LS polls, demand for illegal arms has risen. Following this, they were making weapons to sell to interested parties.

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