In Punjab, Patiala police, unearthed a sensational case of smuggling of Chinese made pistols by a Ferozepur based arms dealer and has recovered 18 Mausers of worth about 1.75 crore rupees which he had already sold to customers across the state on higher price. 300 live cartridges have also been recovered.

Patiala Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), has told AIR Jalandhar correspondent that this seems to be the biggest recovery of such Mauser pistols after the black days of terrorism in Punjab.

Britain has said it will push for a new arms trade treaty to prevent unregulated and irresponsible arms sales across the globe and introduce international regulations to stamp out unscrupulous practices, during the July session of the United Nations.

Addressing the International Institute for Strategic Studies, IISS in London , Secretary of state for International Development Alan Duncan said, laws in different countries to regulate the arms industry needed to have common international standards, including making brokers accountable.

Stating that currently a variable patchwork of regulation exists across the world, he said that some Governments have very robust arms trade control systems in place, but other Governments are fuelling the illicit and irresponsible trade in arms by not having any control systems at all, or by only having weak systems.

Duncan added that as there are no common international standards for the arms trade, gaps and loopholes occur in it.

The proposed treaty is intended to close loopholes that currently allow corruption to thrive and weapons to be diverted on to the illicit market.