Vijayawada: Smuggling of illegal weapons from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh has helped contribute to the “gun culture” that has set root in Vijayawada of late.
In several cases that came to light in the recent past, guns used by accused were brought from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, evidence that it has become increasingly easy for people with a grudge and enough money to lay their hands on an illegal countrymade weapon. Most of these weapons have been bought either directly, or through men from these two states.
Starting from the case of a priest plotting to murder his enemy, to the recent shootout at Pedavutapalli, the weapons were bought in Bihar or reached the city through Biharis.
In a recent case, four men of Guntur who plotted to kill their rival approached a man from Bihar, who in turn travelled to his state and helped them bring back weapons and bullets.
Earlier in September, an ex-serviceman, Sk. Rahimuddin was caught with two pistols and 10 bullets at the railway station. He bought those pistols in Uttar Pradesh using his contacts with the manufacturers, to kill his wife.
Though the police succeeded in foiling the plans of accused in these two cases, cops failed to trace the origins of the weapons seized.
In the September 24 triple murder case too, killers acquired pistols and especially made knives from Bihar, Meerut and Delhi.
Over 10 such cases were registered in Vijayawada police commissionerate limits this year and this has left citizens as well as the police shocked.
Tuesday’s shootout at Nandigama where a YSRC leader was killed on the spot has shaken west Krishna.
DCP (L&O) Tafseer Iqubal said that police, particularly taskforce men, are effectively curbing illegal use of weapons but at the same time it is difficult to end the manufacture as it is out of their jurisdiction.
“The accused do not reveal exact location of the area they bought weapons from. This has left investigators with no lead,” Mr Iqubal said.
Earlier in the year, a gang of youth used an air pistol to threaten their victims and cases of daylight robberies using pistols were registered.
