Latest news with #HakeemSalauddin
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Malihabad arms seizure case: Suspected Dubai link surfaces, Pak connection under scanner
In a fresh development in the Malihabad arms seizure case, police sources have confirmed the recovery of a laptop containing contact records with a Dubai-based number suspected to be linked to the illegal weapons supply chain. Illegal arms seized from a house in Malihabad. (Sourced) According to investigators, Hakeem Salauddin, who was arrested on Friday from Lucknow's Malihabad area in connection with alleged involvement in the case, was in regular contact with the Dubai number, sometimes calling once or twice a day. Investigators have also taken Salauddin's nephew, Gaush Khan, into custody for questioning. He is suspected to have critical information about Salauddin's contacts in Pakistan and other countries. According to police sources, over a dozen of Salauddin's relatives have been living in Pakistan since the 1950s, and he allegedly remained in touch with them. Neighbours have told police that Salauddin and his family travelled to Pakistan two to three times a year. Police are now probing whether this Dubai connection is part of a larger cross-border network or a tactic by Salauddin to mislead authorities. A senior officer said, 'We are mapping the full extent of the network. The Dubai connection is a key lead, and action will be taken against all those involved.' The laptop is currently being analysed by the cyber cell, which is retrieving emails, messages, and social media interactions that may uncover the identities of potential co-conspirators. Surveillance teams are going through Salauddin's call detail records (CDRs) and bank transactions to identify the flow of funds and the origin of payments linked to arms dealings. Preliminary interrogation suggested that while small orders were managed locally, larger consignments were coordinated via this international number. The Lucknow police had busted an illegal arms manufacturing unit in a late-night raid following a tip-off in Malihabad area on Thursday, and arrested Salauddin,68, on Friday. DCP North, Gopal Krishna Choudhary said, 'The accused was running an illegal arms manufacturing unit from a residential locality. He was also found in possession of prohibited wildlife material.' Salahuddin confessed to manufacturing and selling illegal firearms from his home, police said, adding three pistols (.32 bore), one country-made pistol (.315 bore), two country-made pistols (.22 bore), one rifle (.22 bore), and seven airguns were later recovered from his house. The police also recovered 18 live cartridges of .315 bore, 68 of .22 bore, and 30 of 12 bore. Besides, 40 empty cartridges (.22 bore), two live cartridges and one empty cartridge of .32 bore, various tools, saws, knives, semi-manufactured weapons, ₹ 2,000 cash, and the skin of a prohibited deer species were also recovered. Further, the probe has confirmed that illegal arms were being manufactured inside Salauddin's residence. Skilled workers from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, disguised as tenants, were employed for the job, according to the police. Salauddin posed as a traditional medicine practitioner and honey seller. Police officials said they are now preparing to seek Salauddin's custody remand to explore his possible connections with elements in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and with transnational networks.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Dubai, Pak links into illegal arms mfg racket suspected
Lucknow: The ongoing investigation into the illegal arms manufacturing racket busted in Malihabad has taken a turn, with Lucknow Police uncovering a possible Dubai connection and probing suspected ties to Pakistan. Hakeem Salauddin, 68, who was arrested earlier this week after a late-night raid led police to an illegal arms unit operating out of a residential area in Malihabad. During the raid, police recovered a cache of illicit firearms, live ammunition, and even prohibited wildlife material from Salauddin's home. The investigators also recovered a laptop containing records of frequent communication with a Dubai-based phone number. According to police sources, Salauddin was in almost daily contact with this number—often calling once or twice a day. While local-level arms transactions were handled domestically, police suspect that larger consignments were coordinated through this international channel. DCP North Gopal Krishna Choudhary confirmed the seizure of a significant cache from Salauddin's residence, including three .32 bore pistols, a .315 bore country-made pistol, two .22 bore country-made pistols, one .22 bore rifle, and seven airguns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Also recovered were 18 live cartridges of .315 bore, 68 of .22 bore, and 30 of 12 bore, along with 40 empty cartridges (.22 bore), tools, semi-manufactured weapons, Rs 2,000 in cash, and the skin of a protected deer species. The cyber cell is currently examining Salauddin's laptop to retrieve emails, chat records, and social media activity that may reveal the identities of possible associates or foreign handlers. Surveillance teams are also analysing his call detail records (CDRs) and bank transactions to trace the financial trail behind the illegal arms trade. Salauddin's nephew, Gaush Khan, has been detained for interrogation. He is believed to possess critical information about Salauddin's contacts in Pakistan and other countries. Investigators say over a dozen of Salauddin's relatives have lived in Pakistan since the 1950s, and the family made frequent trips across the border, reportedly two to three times a year. The probe has further revealed that Salauddin was employing skilled gunsmiths from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar under the guise of tenants. While he posed publicly as a traditional healer and honey seller, his house served as a covert manufacturing hub for illegal arms. Police are now preparing to seek Salauddin's custody remand for further probe, particularly into his suspected links with networks operating out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
