A 27-year-old man was arrested with a sophisticated automatic pistol and 15 cartridges during a search operation in north-west Delhi ahead of Independence Day.

The accused, Salman, alias ‘Pahalvan’, a resident of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, was intercepted by a team from Mukherji Nagar police station on Wednesday evening (August 12, 2026) while he was travelling in a car on Surjeet Singh Marg in Vijay Nagar.

Police said the team, conducting preventive patrolling and checking as part of heightened security arrangements for Independence Day, signalled the vehicle to stop around 8 p.m. The driver and his passenger alighted and attempted to flee towards the NDPL office.

The police team chased them and managed to apprehend Salman; his associate escaped.

A search of Salman’s person led to the recovery of an automatic pistol and 10 cartridges. Five more cartridges were subsequently recovered from the dashboard of the vehicle, taking the total ammunition seized to 15 rounds.

The vehicle, bearing an Uttar Pradesh registration number, was also seized.

Police said Salman had previously been involved in cases of robbery and snatching. A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at Mukherji Nagar police station. Efforts are now underway to trace the absconding associate and establish the source and intended use of the firearm and ammunition.