Nagpur: In a major crackdown under the ongoing combing operation, the Social Security Branch of the Nagpur Crime Branch arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly possessing an illegal country-made firearm, live cartridges and a sword in the Sakkardara area.

According to police, at around 2.15 am on July 4, officers and personnel of the Social Security Squad were conducting a combing operation across the city when they received specific information about a suspect residing near Hanuman Mandir in Sudampuri.

Acting on the tip-off, the police raided the residence of Premsingh Jitendra Bais (22), a resident of Plot No. 685, Sudampuri, near Hanuman Mandir, under Sakkardara Police Station limits. During the search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, the team recovered a black country-made pistol with a magazine, five live cartridges and an iron sword shaped like a hockey stick.

The police also seized a mobile phone from the accused. The total value of the seized property, including the firearm, ammunition, mobile phone and sword, has been estimated at Rs 73,000.

During interrogation, Bais allegedly disclosed that he had procured the firearm from his associate, Rahul Rajendra Thakre (36), a resident of Mire Layout near Prasanna Bar, Sakkardara, Nagpur, who is currently wanted by the police.

Investigators suspect that the accused was carrying the firearm and weapon with the intention of committing a cognisable offence. Since he was found in possession of prohibited weapons and had allegedly violated prohibitory orders, the Sakkardara Police registered a case against him under Sections 3, 4 and 25 of the Arms Act along with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The accused has been arrested and handed over to Sakkardara Police along with the seized property for further investigation. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding associate.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner of Police Navinchandra Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajendra Dabhade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Deepak Agrawal, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Shivprasad Parwe.

The action was executed by Police Inspector Darshan Patil and his team comprising Laxman Chaure, Prakash Mathankar, Kishor Thakre, Nitin Vasne, Kamlesh Kshirsagar and Woman Police Constable Poonam Shende.