Unmasking the code names of illegal gun smuggling

Mumbai Police has in the recent past detected several possession of illegal firearms cases. Most detections include recovery of country-made weapons also commonly known as 'desi katta'.

The illegally traded country-made weapons generally have different code names, the sources say. However, the investigators need specific information from their sources to track and nab the culprits involved in the illicit trade of country-made weapons.

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Mumbai Police had in May 2023 nabbed two people for allegedly being in possession of two guns and live cartridges. The duo were held after the police received a tip-off regarding the two suspicious men reaching with the guns in the Andheri area of the western suburbs of Mumbai.

A trap was laid by the team of police officials and the two suspects were nabbed. The police officials checked them and found two country-made firearms also known as 'desi katta'. The suspects also had two live cartridges with them. The weapon and bullets were seized by the police and both the suspects were taken into custody.

Primary investigations into the case revealed that the accused were aged 24 and 22-years-old respectively and were natives of Rajasthan. They had been living in Malad area of Mumbai and police suspected that the duo were allegedly involved in illegal trade of country-made weapons.

In 2017, a detection of a case where the Mumbai crime branch had arrested three men who were in possession of country made weapons and live cartridges had also led to discovery of some of the 'codes' used by the illegal firearm dealers to evade police interceptions.
Sources said, "Those involved in dealing of desi kattas come up with codes for country-made weapons, they sometimes also call it 'samaan' (luggage) but depending on the quality, they also call it, 'saat ka saman' (low in quality) and 'nau ka saman' (good in quality). They even have a code word for live cartridges which is often called 'Daana' , Channa (food grains) and bacche (children). "

In 2017, the officials of crime branch unit IX had laid a trap after receiving credible information that three people were to come to Bandra west near Bandra-Worli sea link with illegal firearms, the officials formed a special team and then laid a trap to nab the three suspects. Their searches had led to a recovery of as many as five weapons and 36 live bullets.

Sources added, while interrogating the suspects, the police officials discovered that they had code names for the weapons and even cartridges which were smuggled into the city from Uttar Pradesh. A case under sections of Arms Act was later registered by the police.

The cops have found that to tackle security agencies, the suppliers of illegal guns mainly on the routes from some parts of north India to Mumbai use codes and there are about a dozen names for illegal guns and live cartridges.

Sources added, desi katta is commonly called a 'katta' but to evade legal action the dealers in the illegal business have coded the kattas depending on its quality, size and even colour. The codes include mainly the names of common birds and daily household used items. The kattas are called kawwa (crow) and live bullets are called chana (chickpeas) apart from the commonly used word in the underworld for a firearm - ghoda (horse). A rifle is called by illegal traders of guns as 'jhadu' and a sten gun - 'file'."

Dealers of illegal firearms have coded the names of the guns which even have an explanation and reason to choose a particular name, "It is called kawwa because most guns are black in colour and creates a loud sound each time it is fired. Similarly, A rifle is called jhadu because it's long and sten gun is called file because it can load several cartridges at once, sources further said.

"The smuggled guns and live bullets have a value ranging from thousands to a lakh depending on the quality of the weapon. A desi katta could be sold for Rs.15,000-30,000 whereas a good quality imported weapon could be black marketed in lakhs," said a police officer.

The decoded codes for guns

Kawwa - Black colour gun

Chana - Country-made pistol

Jhadu - Rifle

Ghoda - Pistol, imported weapon

File - Sten gun

Danna - Live cartridges

Chana - Live Cartridges

Saath ka samaan- cheap priced

Nau ka samaan - good quality katta

Cassette- Magazine of a gun