Exclusive: In Madhya Pradesh Hinterland, A 300-Year-Old Gunmaking Journey
NDTV
An NDTV crew travelled from Bhopal, the state capital, to the villages of the Sikligar community in the districts of Sendhwa, Barwani, Dhar, and Khargone, which border Maharashtra.
Once renowned gunsmiths for the army raised by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, the Sikligars of Madhya Pradesh are now infamous for making illegal firearms for criminals across India.
An NDTV crew travelled from Bhopal, the state capital, to the villages of the Sikligar community in the districts of Barwani, Dhar, Burhanpur and Khargone, which border Maharashtra. The terrain was difficult to navigate, but the journey to uncover the truth about the Sikligar community was imperative.
The crew reached a village near Palsood in Barwani district and met two Sikligars who make illegal weapons. They showed their equipment and said they sell the weapons for Rs 5,000-7,000. Using only bare hands, a hammer, and a chisel, the skilled Sikligar smiths can conjure a weapon out of raw materials in about 10-12 days.
