Thane: Crime Branch Arrests 3, Seizes 292 Country-Made Bombs Worth ₹3.11 Lakh

Mumbai: The Central Unit of Thane Crime Branch has arrested three people, including a woman, for allegedly possessing around 292 country-made bombs from them.

The accused have been identified as Subhash Pehelkar, 45, a resident of Mangaon Taluka, District Raigad, Palish Sikre, 37, and his wife Murli Bai Sikre, 35, both residents of Satara District in Maharashtra, but originally belong to Katni District in Madhya Pradesh.

The police said that on December 2, based on information provided by the informer, a man would come to Saket Road to sell a country-made bomb that is used for hunting wild boar. Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Shinde formed a team and laid a trap on Saket Road in Thane, apprehending an accused named Subhash Pehelkar.

Upon checking him, they found 10 country-made bombs in his bag valued at Rs 10,000 During interrogation, he revealed that he carrying it with intended to sell. He revealed the name of Palish Sikre and his wife Murli bai Sikre where he brought it.

The police said they alerted the official from the Wai police station in Satara about it. Subsequently, with the help of the Wai police, they raided at Sikre's home and found 282 country-made bombs valued at Rs 282,000. The police said they seized a total of 292 country-made bombs, three mobile phone, and cash valued at Rs 3,11,500 from the three accused.

The accused were arrested and produced in court, remanded into police custody for further investigation. An FIR has been registered under the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nayi Sanhita and the Explosive Substances Act at the Rabodi police station in Thane.

According to Sanjay Shinde, the senior police inspector said, "During preliminary investigations, we learned that these kinds of country-made bombs are used for killing wild boars that damage the crops in agricultural areas."