67-year-old woman held for supplying firearms to gangsters in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi (PTI): A 67-year-old woman was arrested for alleged involvement in an organised illegal firearms trafficking syndicate that supplied weapons to gangsters and dreaded criminals operating in Delhi-NCR, an official said on Saturday.
Using her age as a cover to evade suspicion, the woman would procure firearms from suppliers in Madhya Pradesh and transport the consignments to Delhi or Meerut, where the weapons were sold to gangsters and other criminals, police said.
Rambiri, a Meerut resident, was arrested and a consignment of illegal firearms -- four pistols and three extra magazines -- was recovered from her possession.
According to the police, the arrest was made as part of a special drive in view of the increasing use of firearms in recent crimes reported across Delhi NCR.
Intelligence was gathered about syndicates involved in the sale, purchase and transportation of illegal arms, leading to the identification of Rambiri as an active member of one such network.
Investigations revealed that she used her age as a cover to evade law enforcement agencies.
"Based on specific inputs, the team tracked and apprehended Rambiri, who was found in possession of a fresh consignment of illegal firearms," a senior police officer said.
Police said Rambiri has a long criminal history linked to organised crime. After the death of her husband in 2003, she allegedly came into contact with criminals and became involved in crime.
In 2008, she was allegedly involved in a bank robbery involving Rs 1.48 crore in Gurugram, Haryana, and another bank robbery in the Jawalapur area of Haridwar, Uttarakhand. In 2009, she and her associates allegedly attempted yet another bank robbery in Delhi's Kamla Market area.
Considering the continued criminal activities of the gang, a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOC) Act was registered at the Special Cell in 2009. Rambiri was arrested in the case along with her associates, including Baljinder, and remained in judicial custody from 2009 to 2017, police said.
After her release from jail, she allegedly re-established contact with her associates and resumed the illegal business of buying and selling firearms, officials said, adding that further investigation is underway to identify her suppliers and the end users of the seized weapons.
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Karnataka bypolls: Over 60 per cent voter turnout in Bagalkot, Davanagere South till 5 pm
Bengaluru (PTI): Over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in both Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where bypolls were held on Thursday.
While the turnout in Bagalkot was 65.68 per cent, it was 63.04 per cent in Davanagere South.
While the ruling Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP aims to wrest them and deliver a setback to its rival, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
The bypolls were necessitated due to the demise of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
