Gunfight, Drugs, Farmhouse: Rajasthan Police bust MD factory in Balesar during Operation Vishgrahan

Hapu Ram was the kingpin who recruited others. Naresh served as chief chemist; Arjun managed security; Shrawan and Budhram assisted with chemistry and deliveries; Narendra produced the drugs and had prior jail time in Hyderabad; Dhorimanna in Barmer was a common link. Investigators noted that all accused used iPhones for encrypted communication.

Authorities noted that 33 MD drug factories had been busted in Rajasthan in the past year, with 31 of them in the belt covering Jodhpur, Jalore, Sanchore, and Barmer.

Police described the broader MD drug network: chemicals sourced from Gujarat and Maharashtra; processing in districts including Jodhpur, Sanchore, Barmer, and Jalore; drugs routed from Gujarat to Maharashtra and onward, with distribution extending to Punjab and other northern states.

The MD unit was housed in an under-construction building owned by Jiya Ram (Arjun's uncle), leased for Rs 2.5 lakh despite its actual value of around Rs 5,000. Investigators noted that the group used iPhones to communicate via encrypted apps to evade surveillance.

Hapu Ram and Arjun sustained injuries during the escape attempt. Six smugglers were arrested at the site, and 176 kg of MD drugs were recovered, laid out to dry, with an estimated value of about Rs 90 crore.

Hapu Ram and Arjun, who was in charge of security, opened fire from the roof as officers surrounded the site. After a tense standoff, they jumped from the roof; Arjun was overpowered and his replica foreign-made pistol with a high-capacity magazine was seized. Nearly 15 rounds were exchanged during the confrontation.

Around 1 am, the team reached Balesar and located the MD drug unit inside an under-construction building in an isolated field about 1.5 km from habitation, surrounding the site.

Commandos of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force left Jodhpur shortly after midnight to commence the operation against the MD drug network.

Police first received a clue about the gang's activities through a social media communication app. They tailed Hapu Ram for nearly six weeks, culminating in the decision to launch Operation Vishgrahan.