Delhi: How this gang used Facebook to peddle firearms

NEW DELHI: The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Ops (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police has busted a module involved in selling illegal firearms through Facebook and other social media platforms. The mastermind of the syndicate, who belongs to Rajasthan and is involved in 11 cases, has been arrested. A hunt is on for the others.

The arrested man, Hitesh Singh Thakur alias Langda (38), is a resident of Jodhpur. He had supplied arms and ammunition to criminals and had even tied up with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, police said.
DCP KPS Malhotra said their investigation revealed Thakur's links in Pakistan and with other people through virtual numbers on WhatsApp and social media platforms. "Many first-timers who approached him on Facebook were cheated too," he added.

The crime came to the fore during social media monitoring by IFSO, which noticed that several Facebook profiles/Urls had shared posts and videos offering sale of arms and weapons. They had also displayed photographs and videos of weapons and ammunition. The most prominent group was in Bishnoi's name.
This rang alarm bells given the Rohini court shootout in which gangster Jitender Gogi was killed. It triggered fears of retaliation by his allies, like Bishnoi. An FIR was registered at IFSO and a team comprising ACP Raman Lamba, inspector Parveen and others was formed to investigate the case.
During investigation, Facebook profiles related to Bishnoi were searched and it was found that among his friends/members list, Hitesh Rajput also had a separate profile in the name of Hirpal Singh. He was offering to sell firearms.
"Through technical surveillance and human intelligence, the active profiles of Hirpal Singh were identified. A deal was struck on Facebook and communication was undertaken on various social media platforms. During communication, videos of weapons were shared by Hirpal and the advance money was deposited in the bank account provided by him," said Malhotra.
A trap was subsequently laid and the suspect was apprehended from Manesar in Haryana when he came to receive the remaining amount. After his arrest, his phone was forensically examined, which generated further clues.
"Thakur is a habitual offender and has been lodged in various jails of Rajasthan. While he was an undertrial, he developed connections with other criminals. It was revealed that he used to cheat many budding criminals and supplied arms to notorious criminals or gang members after verification," said the DCP.
During interrogation, Thakur revealed that he had started his criminal activities in 2010. His friend and he committed burglary at a book shop. After coming out of jail, he started stealing bikes and selling them. In jail, he met a dacoit, Dhan Singh Peeproli, and started working for him.