The national Capital witnessed about nine cases under Arms act in 2024 as compared to about 10 cases in 2023 with the recovery of over 800 firearms, 2,500 ammunition and 2,000 sharp edged weapons in the current year upto August 31.

A senior police official said that such cases are witnessed in outer districts including Rohini, Shahdara, Northeast Delhi, Outer Delhi and Outernorth Delhi among others while districts such as New Delhi, Central Delhi and North Delhi record the lowest of such cases.

Shahdara witnessed 118 cases under arms act with 134 arrests made in such cases upto August 31. The police recovered 37 katta, five desi pistols, 65 live cartridges, four empty cartridges, one magazine and 92 knives.

Rohini recorded 140 cases till September 15 while 69 firearms and 115 weapons, including knives, were recovered in such cases. In 2023, 211 cases were reported in the district with 118 firearms recovered. Other firearms, 115 recoveries were made in the last year

“In the first half of this year, till August 31, we have registered 2,170 cases under the Arms Act and seized 892 firearms, 2,546 ammunition (bullets) and 2,074 sharp-edged weapons,” a senior police officer said on Wednesday. The data further revealed that 3,579 cases were registered under the law in 2023 and police seized 1,521 arms, 4,316 bullets and 2,764 sharp-edged weapons.

The officer further said in the last four years and a half, the Delhi Police has registered 15,472 cases under the Arms Act and seized 6,650 firearms, 21,660 bullets and 24,737 sharp-edged weapons.

“In 2022, a massive drive was launched to recover sharp-edged weapons that were ordered from e-commerce websites,” the officer said.

According to the data, police registered 3,089 cases in 2020, with a total seizure of 2,339 firearms, 5,138 bullets and 1,374 sharp-edged weapons. Similarly, 2,923 cases were registered in 2021, with a total seizure of 1,707 arms, 8,939 bullets and 1,827 sharp-edged weapons.

A total of 3,693 cases were registered under the Arms Act in 2022, with the seizure of 1,560 arms, 5,719 bullets and 16,698 sharp-edged weapons.

“We have busted many weapons-supplying gangs working in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and seized a large number of weapons from them. Our strong network of sources informs us about such gangs. Many manufacturing units were also busted,” the officer said.