Sheikh Salim—infamously known as “Salim Pistol”—has been captured and repatriated to India following a dramatic arrest in Nepal on August 9, 2025. His apprehension by the Delhi Police Special Cell and allied security agencies represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against cross-border arms trafficking.

Salim had been a fugitive since 2018, vanishing after obtaining bail in an arms-related case in Delhi and allegedly operating from Nepal, with further links to Pakistan. His network funneled modern firearms, notably Turkish-made Zigana pistols, which found their way into the arsenals of India’s most feared gangster groups.

Early Life and Criminal Genesis
Originating from Delhi’s Jafrabad, Salim dropped out of school after Class 8 and began working as a driver. His initiation into crime started in 2000 with vehicle thefts, escalating to a notorious ₹20 lakh armed robbery in 2011 and an arrest in 2013. Over two decades, Salim transformed into an internationally recognized arms kingpin.

Arms Trafficking Modus Operandi
Salim masterminded the smuggling of sophisticated weapons, particularly Zigana pistols, assembling an elaborate supply chain with help from associates in Khurja, Bulandshahr. Components smuggled from Pakistan were concealed in vehicles, reassembled inside India, and distributed to criminal syndicates.

Nexus with Underworld and Terror Groups
Investigators link Salim to Pakistan’s ISI and D-Company, headed by Dawood Ibrahim. His clientele included infamous names like Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba. Authorities believe he mentored and armed operatives involved in major murder cases, including Sidhu Moosewala and Baba Siddiqui.

Significance of the Arrest
Salim’s extradition is seen as a crucial blow to international arms trafficking and organized crime syndicates. Officials are interrogating Salim for more intelligence on his widespread network, hoping to dismantle the web of illegal arms trade connecting India, Nepal, and Pakistan.