Six young men were arrested in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra for their alleged involvement in an illegal arms trade, officials said on Sunday, in a case that has drawn attention because several of the accused are graduates. Four firearms and 11 live cartridges were recovered from their possession, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

The arrests were made in an overnight operation by the Detection Branch of CIDCO Police Station in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-2) Ratnakar Navle. Some of the arrested men hold degrees such as B.Sc., B.Com. and BCS, police said.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

Preliminary investigation indicates that the weapons were allegedly being brought in from Madhya Pradesh and supplied to various locations across the city. Police suspect that an organised syndicate may be operating behind the network, and are examining where the weapons were procured, who the buyers were and who else may be involved.

Police sources said the accused were reportedly earning around Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 per weapon sold. It has also emerged during the investigation that two of the six arrested men had previously been booked in cases related to assault and violence, police said. These are police allegations and claims reported by IANS; the accused have not been convicted, and the matter is under further investigation.