According to the figures obtained by The Indian Express under the Right to Information Act (RTI) from the city police, there has been an increase in the seizure of illegal firearms.

In 2007, 74 illegal firearms (including country made and foreign made pistols, revolvers, guns) were seized in 61 cases and 89 persons were booked under Arms Act. In 2008, 115 illegal firearms were seized, 79 cases were registered and 131 persons were booked. In 2009, 79 illegal firearms were seized in 68 cases and 122 persons were booked. In 2010, 83 illegal firearms were seized, 162 persons booked and 72 cases registered. From January to September, 2011, 78 illegal firearms were seized, 128 persons booked and 67 cases recorded. Police sources said more firearms have been seized from September till date.

In none of the cases, the Pune police were able to reach the source or manufacturing units of illegal firearms. Also, very few suspects arrested in these cases are firearms dealers, while others are end buyers, many of whom are not connected to any organised crime syndicate.

Sources said even those, especially youths who do not have any criminal background or do not want to commit any crime, are also buying illegal firearms just to get the "thrill" involved in possessing the pistol/revolver.

Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) A D Shinde said, "Price of illegal firearms has reduced with increase in availability. There are persons who do not mind spending some Rs 2,000-3,000 for buying a firearm."

Police sources said recent seizures show more sophisticated country-made firearms are being manufactured. "Earlier, country-made pistols used to get jammed. Now it functions smoothly as the quality of its barrel and trigger has improved." Shinde said, "The look of country-made firearms has improved. But we do not know how they operate as we have never tested them."

Shinde said there have not been raids by city police on the illegal firearms manufacturing units as they are located in other states. "It is difficult to reach the source of firearms as there many hands change from their manufacturing units to the end buyers in Pune. We had got information about an illegal firearms manufacturing unit in Indore sometime back. The information was shared with Dhule police," he said.

Sources said illegal firearms manufacturing units are mainly operating in villages of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. "Some country made firearms are even available at prices between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000, which are affordable to many," said sources.

Shinde admitted no special study was conducted by city police on illegal firearms trade in city. "Illegal firearms trade is not an organised crime. Persons involved in it do not come with huge quantity of firearms for sale. They just bring a few firearms and look for customers," he said.

Sources said instead of cartridges and gavathi katta (country-made firearm), criminals are now preferring to use firearms with magazines or "cassette", which they call it in their language.