3,000 Cartridges, Dubai-Pakistan Links & Wildlife Trafficking: Decoding Malihabad Arms Seizure Case

News18

2 days ago

Last Updated:
UP STF recovered 12-13 sophisticated firearms and over 3,000 cartridges from the residence of Hakim Salahuddin, a 72-year-old traditional medicine practitioner
A massive illegal arms recovery, just 100 meters from the Malihabad police station in Lucknow, has sparked serious law and order concerns, days before the sensitive periods of Muharram and Kanwar Yatra. The bust comes close on the heels of a similar major arms seizure in West Bengal, raising fears of a wider covert network operating across states.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) recovered 12–13 sophisticated firearms—including pistols, rifles, and Mausers—and over 3,000 cartridges from the residence of Hakim Salahuddin, a 72-year-old traditional medicine practitioner, locally known as a 'hakim." He had been operating a small clinic near the Malihabad post office in close proximity to the police station.
The nature of the seized cartridges has particularly alarmed investigators. Top UP Police sources told CNN-News18 that the ammunition is legitimate in origin, typically issued to licensed gun holders, and they are now probing how it reached an unlicensed smuggler. One line of investigation is whether these were sourced using third-party licenses, a method that is now under close scrutiny.
'This is a major breach of law and order. We are working to trace the supply chain and determine how such material was stockpiled under the nose of the police," the sources said.
STF sources have identified Salahuddin as a regular arms smuggler, with parallel involvement in wildlife trafficking. His arrest followed a tip-off received through intelligence channels, with suspicions that the arms may have been intended for sabotage or communal disturbance during the upcoming religious events.
Salahuddin's mobile phone data also reportedly contains contacts from Dubai and Pakistan, which are now under investigation. 'These are not routine numbers. We're treating this as a serious transnational angle," said an STF official.
Despite operating from a high-visibility location, Salahuddin evaded police attention for years. Local police now admit they had no prior suspicion about him, even though suspicious visitors to his home had been casually noted.
The STF is also examining possible administrative oversight or internal collusion. Sources said Salahuddin may have bribed local officials, or that information about his activities may have been deliberately suppressed. Investigators are not ruling out internal sabotage or facilitation.
At the time of arrest, Salahuddin reportedly complained of heart issues, delaying detailed interrogation. 'He's giving evasive responses and naming people who are already dead to mislead the investigation," an STF officer revealed. Police will soon seek extended custody to access his full network.
Salahuddin's background paints a picture of a seemingly respectable citizen. His wife is a government school teacher, and their daughters are pursuing higher education, with one studying in Norway and another enrolled in a BTech programme.
However, behind this respectable image, UP Police sources say, was a hub of illegal arms and wildlife trafficking, and possibly a node in a larger, coordinated operation.
First Published:
June 30, 2025, 11:55 IST