Kerala Police Seize Large Weapons Cache In Malappuram Raid

Police in Kerala's Malappuram district arrested a man in his sixties after raiding his residence and seizing a significant cache of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The operation, conducted Tuesday at Unnikammad's home in Edavanna based on confidential intelligence, uncovered 20 air guns, three rifles, approximately 200 bullets, and 40 boxes of pellets.

Unnikammad, a local resident, was immediately taken into custody and charged under multiple sections of the Arms Act, 1959, which regulates possession, manufacture, and sale of firearms to prevent misuse.

The haul, described by Edavanna police station officer K. Rajesh as one of the largest in recent district history, raises concerns over illegal arms proliferation in northern Kerala, a region occasionally linked to poaching and petty crime. Air guns and rifles, often sourced from neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu or through online black markets, are commonly used for hunting or target practice but require strict licensing under the act.

Possession without permits carries penalties up to seven years imprisonment and fines. Pellets and bullets suggest potential for widespread distribution, prompting investigators to probe procurement sources, including possible interstate smuggling networks.

Malappuram, with its mix of urban and rural landscapes, has seen sporadic arms seizures amid broader law enforcement drives against wildlife poaching and communal tensions. Similar incidents include the July 2025 arrest of two poachers near the Malappuram-Kozhikode border with country-made guns and daggers during a sambar deer hunt and a 2024 explosives bust involving over 1,000 gelatine sticks from a quarry.

While no links to organised crime or terrorism have surfaced yet, the district's proximity to wildlife sanctuaries like Silent Valley amplifies fears of escalation. Police have formed a special team to interview associates and analyse digital footprints for sales intent.

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The Arms Act violations highlight enforcement gaps in rural Kerala, where lax oversight allows unlicensed weapons to circulate. State police chief Dr Shaik Darvesh Saheb directed intensified surveillance, urging public tips via the Kerala Police helpline.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities aim to dismantle any supply chains, ensuring the cache does not fuel local unrest. Unnikammad was remanded for 14 days by the Manjeri court, with forensic tests underway on the seized items.

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