India, Nov. 24 -- Pune police have linked a significant number of weapons used in major gang-related crimes in the city to Umrarti village in Madhya Pradesh, now identified as one of India's most active illegal arms manufacturing hubs.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said investigations into multiple gang cases repeatedly traced the weapons to Umrarti, prompting a large-scale police operation in the village last week.

"Initial information shows Umrarti has supplied 700 to 800 illegal weapons over the past five years to buyers across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh," Kumar said at the city police commissionerate on Sunday.

"Almost every major gang crime in Pune in the last couple of years has a clear ...