Reflecting an alarming trend, the weapon recovery by the police have risen four-fold in the past three years.

From only 27 firearms seized in 2005, the figure has shot up to 116 in 2008.

“Howeverm with these seizures, the police could avert a lot of crimes,” said Additional Commisioner (Crime) Rajender Singh. “Most of the arms recovered were from criminal gangs and low level functionaries of political parties,” Singh said. The city police had registered 25 cases and recovered 27 arms in 2005; this went up to 53 cases and 66 seizures in 2006; in 2007, the police registered 65 cases and recovered 89 weapons.

In 2008, though there was no significant rise in the number of cases registered (71), the weapons seized went up to three figures — 116.

Among the major seizures from criminal gangs were: In 2008, 12 arms were seized and 8 people were arrested by a team led by police inspector Mohan Mohadikar from Unit 3 of city crime branch police. They belonged to the Rakesh Marne gang. Eight arms were recovered from gangster Feroz Bengali’s associates. Arms were also recovered from associates of Baba Bodke.

“Apart from criminal gangs, there were people who procured arms illegally as they perceived threat from their rivals,” Singh said.

Singh also observed that as land rates have sky rocketed, land owners have started keeping illegal arms.