District Superintendent of Police Shamsher Singh said the leader of the gang Shabbir Amir Makrani, who had lived in Saudi Arabia for eight years, had been dealing illegally in arms for quite some time. Four country-made revolvers and some ammunition were seized from him in 1997 too, he added.

According to Singh, Makrani, during his interrogations, confessed that he procured the guns from Indore in Madhya Pradesh and to sell it to criminals in Gujarat.

Some weapon-buyers had also been caught on the basis of information divulged by the accused and were being questioned by the Chotaudepur police, Singh said, adding that another police party had been desptached to Indore to arrest the illegal weapon manufacturer and bulk dealer.

Singh said weapons used in robberies and loots in the district and neighbouring Bharuch matched with those seized and suggested that the gang had links with the criminals operating in South Gujarat.