Bengaluru: Five toy guns imported for movie get cops’ nod

BENGALURU: Five toy semi-automatic guns which were imported from Turkey for a big-budget Kannada movie starring a leading actor and were stuck in the cargo wing of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for nearly three weeks are likely to be released in a couple of days as police have given a green signal.
While the movie makers were insisting they urgently needed the toy guns to shoot the climax, Bangalore Customs was awaiting a police report confirming they were indeed toys to avoid trouble. Sources in KIA confirmed police issued an NOC on Wednesday night and the toy guns would be released in a few days. Police sources said the guns appeared capable of firing a real bullet but closer examination revealed they were toys.
KIA sources said the consignment from Istanbul reached the air cargo wing about three weeks ago. A customs officer spotted five semi-automatic weapons inside it and found that the maker was a weapon-manufacturing company. The parcel was opened and examination revealed what looked like real semi-automatic weapons.
“The importer in Bengaluru in whose name the consignment was booked from Istanbul was contacted and he was found to have imported it for a Kannada movie starring a leading actor. Though he claimed they were toy guns, the same was not declared in the bill of entry for the import,” said the sources.
The movie makers later told customs sleuths that the toy guns were to be used for filming of the climax scene and were needed urgently as the film’s release date was fast approaching. “But customs officials couldn’t clear them without declaration of Bengaluru City Police, which is the assessing authority in case of involvement of firearms,” the sources added.
Bangalore Customs is said to have contacted the deputy commissioner of police (intelligence), Bengaluru. Following this, a police team, including a ballistic specialist, visited the cargo wing at KIA and examined the guns.