ACCUSED WAS WANTED FOR SUPPLYING ARMS IN TWO CASES OF PS KHURJA DEHAT AND KOTWALI, BULANDSHAHR, UP., ACCUSED RIJWAN ANSARI FACILITATED ARMS TO THE CONTACTS OF SHAHBAZ IN BULANDSHAHR AND KHURJA., SHAHBAZ WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN SUPPLYING ARMS FOR THE MURDER OF SIDHU MOOSEWALA., CASH REWARD OF RS 25,000/- WAS DECLARED BY UP POLICE ON ACCUSED RIJWAN'S ARREST., 01 SOPHISTICATED PISTOL, 01 COUNTRY MADE PISTOL, 05 LIVE CARTRIDGES AND 01 STOLEN SCOOTER RECOVERED DURING THE OPERATION.
Face2News/New Delhi
In a significant operation, the AGS, Crime Branch has arrested a key member of Kala Jathedi-Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The arrested individual, Rijwan Ansari, was wanted for his involvement in arms supply cases of PS Khurja Dehat and Kotwali, Bulandshahr, UP. Accused Rijwan was responsible for supplying arms in the Muzaffarnagar area of U.P. on April 29, 2024, Khurja Dehat police intercepted three suspects in a Thar vehicle, resulting in the seizure of five illegal firearms. A case FIR No. 126/2024, dated 29.04.2024, U/s 25 (6) Arms Act was registered at PS Khurja Dehat, implicating Rijwan as an arms facilitator.
On May 22, 2024, Bulandshahr police dismantled an inter-state arms supply syndicate, arresting 12 individuals and seizing a dozen illegal firearms. The arrested individuals were associated with Rizwan and Bilal, r/o Khurja, UP, believed to have supplied arms used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The gang sold illegal pistols for prices ranging from Rs 45,000/- to Rs 50,000/-, depending on demand, and operated in regions like NCR, Aligarh, and Hapur. The weapons were used in various crimes, including murder and robbery. A case was registered vide FIR No. 410/2024, dated 22.05.2024, U/s 3/5/25/27 Arms Act at PS Kotwali, Bulandshahr, identifying Rijwan as a key arms facilitator who was evading arrest.
For several months, a dedicated team of AGS, Crime Branch worked to track down members and arms suppliers of various gangs. Reliable information regarding their movements was continuously gathered. To further develop this intelligence, sources were carefully selected and deployed, and intensive technical surveillance was conducted. Team members were stationed in various locations in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana to gather information on the movements of gang members and arms peddlers.
Team headed by Insp. Krishan Kumar, comprising of SIs Sachin Gulia, Mukesh, Agam, ASIs Narender, Surrender, HCs Vinod, Shyam Sunder, Mintu, Pappu, Dharamraj and Anoop, under the close supervision of ACP Naresh Kumar was constituted by Sh. Satish Kumar, DCP/Crime Branch, to nab the arms peddler associated with notorious gangs.
The efforts paid off on October 24, 2024, when Insp. Krishan Kumar team received specific information about the wanted criminal Rijwan Ansari, who was involved in multiple arms supply cases. A trap was laid at Nala Chhawla, Dwarka, Delhi, where Rijwan was intercepted while riding a stolen scooter. After a brief chase and struggle, the team overpowered him.
Mr. Sanjay Bhatia, IPS, Addl Commissoner of Police, Crime Branch, Delhi, during the search, they recovered 01 sophisticated pistol with a magazine and 03 live cartridges, along with 01 country-made pistol and 02 live cartridges. A case FIR No. 211/24, dated 24.10.2024, U/s 25/54/59 Arms Act was registered at PS Crime Branch, Delhi. The scooter used by Rijwan was reported stolen vide e-FIR No. 002467/24, dated 30.01.2024, U/s 379 IPC, PS Moti Nagar, Delhi.
Further investigation revealed that the arms were facilitated by his cousin Shahbaz Ansari, a known associate of the gang leaders. Shahbaz had previously been arrested for supplying arms in the murder case of Sidhu Moosewala.
Two other arms suppliers from the Bulandshahr and Khurja area, Kurban Ansari and Rehan Ansari, are Rijwan's brothers. Kurban had been arrested by Delhi Police in 2016 for smuggling sophisticated weapons from across the border for pistols worth Rs 1 crore.
Shahbaz Ansari was arrested for allegedly supplying arms to notorious gangster which were used in Moosewala's murder in December 2022. Rizwan is said to be closely associated with Shahbaz, who is currently in judicial custody under the UAPA for his involvement in the same case
Accused Rijwan Ansari was born in Khurja, Bulandshahr, U.P. His father was in the crockery business. He has two younger brothers, Kurban and Rehan. His father, mother, and brother Kurban passed away during the pandemic. Rijwan, along with his brothers and nephew, has been involved in supplying illegal arms and ammunition to notorious gangsters across the nation.
Previously, Rijwan was in the crockery business and even ventured into journalism, working for various news channels and the Jansata newspaper. In 2016, his brothers were arrested by Special Cell, Delhi Police for a substantial consignment of illegal arms. After being released on bail, they resumed their illegal arms business, supplying to notorious gangs.
In April and May 2024, several shooters from Kala Jathedi-Lawrence Bishnoi gang were apprehended by UP police, revealing that they had procured illegal weapons from Rijwan. Since then, Rijwan has been evading arrest, hiding in Delhi and NCR, as UP police had declared a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to his arrest. On 24.10.2024, he was caught while carrying illegal arms, intending to meet associates of the gang.