The accused have been identified as Hussainsaab (35), a resident of Chitradurga, Nawab Barkatulla (29), a native of Bihar, and Mohammad Siraj (25) of Jharkhand. While Nawab Barkatulla is a former moulvi, the other two were working at a madrasa at Idayatpura in Chitradurga.

The revolvers were reportedly being sold to customers at a price ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh.

Holding the accused as part of a countrywide arms cartel, the police have recommended that the State Government hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Addressing the media, Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said the gang is part of a nationwide racket which smuggled sophisticated arms to various parts of the country.

“Investigations have revealed that the arms were manufactured at an illegal factory in North India with the names of foreign countries inscribed on them,” Bidari said.

Deccan Herald had last month reported that the State Government had identifiedfive districts as illegal arms hubs. Director-General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh had then admitted that weapons trade was active in those districts.