Pune: Laden Gang comprising of four persons were arrested in Pune city for alleged possession of illegal firearms on Friday. The police have confiscated 11 country-made pistols and 31 live cartridges, total worth Rs 4.55 lakh from the accused.

The suspects have been identified as Barkya alias Pramod Parse (19), Raju Jadhav (20), Ballusingh Shikligar (49) and Laden alias Sohail Modin Asangi (22). The police said that the two pistols sold by the accused were used in the Wanowrie and Velhe shootings.

According to a press release issued by Pune police, Laden had sold one pistol to one Sandip Dhumal, who was nabbed by the Velha police station recently. Pune Rural police seized the pistol from Dhumal when he attempted to kill a person.

The suspect Ballusingh was bringing the firearms with the help of his relative who stays at border of Madhya Pradesh. Two pistols obtained by the accused were used to fire at a person in Wanowrie.

HOW PUNE POLICE NABBED THE GANG

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Swargate police station laid a trap and arrested Pramod Parse near Swargate depot on November 7. During the investigation, two pistols and four cartridges were seized from him.

Later it was revealed that Parse and his aide, Raju Jadhav, had purchased 13 pistols from Ballusingh, who is an illegal firearms dealer. Of these firearms, the duo had sold four pistols to Laden alias Sohel, police informed.