Meerut, May 7 -- : In a significant breakthrough, police in Meerut on Wednesday busted a large illegal arms manufacturing racket operating from a forested area in Khardoni village. The joint operation, carried out by Incholi police station and a SWAT team, led to the arrest of four accused, including the alleged mastermind Imran, and the seizure of a concealed country-made pistol (tamanchaa) factory.

The other three accused have been identified as 19-year-old BCA student, Umang Thakur, Kuldeep and Narendra.

According to police, the illegal unit was being run from a house deep inside the forest, where a secret basement had been constructed beneath an almirah to avoid detection. Officials believe the gang had been active for a long period...