In the first incident, on a tip-off a special squad of unit IV of the crime branch intercepted a Tata Sierra car and nabbed two members of Chhota Rajan gang at Laxmibai Chowk at around 5.30 pm on Thursday. A search of the vehicle yielded a rare 9 mm sten carbine, a .38 service revolver, 76 live rounds and 31 empties.

The gangsters identified as Nitin Deshmukh and Vijay Hazare told the police that they were operating from the Raigad district.

Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) D Shivanandan said, ``It is worrisome that the gangsters were carrying the lethal a 9 mm sten gun and .38 service revolver, which are only used by the security forces. Investigators are trying to find out the source of the weapon.'' A sten carbine automatic, which can tucked under a shirt, is capable of firing660 rounds every minute and has an effective range of 100 feet.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Param Bir Singh the recovery of the empty cartridges indicated that the gangsters have been carrying out firing practice in the nearby jungle. The two men are being interrogated, Singh added.

On Wednesday, the Nagpada police arrested four members of the rival Chhota Shakeel gang at Belassis street and recovered two Chinese-made 9 mm pistols and 9 live rounds.

The gangsters have been identified as Farid Ahmed Sheikh, Mohammed Salim, Vijay Tiwari alias Vilas and Mohammed Hassan Sheikh, all in their early twenties.

The other members in the squad were Assistant Commissioner of Police Pradeep Sawant, assistant inspectors Suresh Vedak, D Karkar and S Shinde.