Nagpur: In a significant crackdown on illegal possession of firearms, Gittikhadan Police apprehended a 23-year-old youth carrying a loaded country-made pistol near Futala Lake on the evening of Tuesday, June 3.

Around 6:30 pm, the police patrol team received a tip-off about a man in a red t-shirt near Sonu Pan Tapri, Futala Lake, who was allegedly carrying a firearm. Acting on the information, the team rushed to the spot and found an individual matching the description with a white moped.

The man was detained and identified as Prajat Rajesh Panchariya, a resident of Plot No. 339, Soyog Nagar, Nari Road, Kapil Nagar, Nagpur. Upon a spot search in the presence of panch witnesses, police found a country-made iron pistol with a magazine and one live round hidden in the vehicle’s storage compartment.

The firearm and ammunition, valued at approximately ₹25,300, were seized. Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused was in possession of the weapon with the intent to commit a cognizable offence and had violated the prohibitory orders in place.

A case has been registered at Gittikhadan Police Station under Sections 3/25 of the Indian Arms Act and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and the accused has been taken into custody. Further investigation is ongoing.

The operation was executed under the guidance of DCP Rahul Madane (Zone 2), ACP Sunita Meshram, and PI Kailas Deshmane, with PSI Chetan Borkhede, and constables Baljeet Thakur, Ajay Yadav, Vilas Chauhan, Nagnath Kokre, and Akash Lothe forming the action team.