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The Zigana pistol, made in Turkey, is banned in India but prized by gangs, linked to murders of Sidhu Moosewala, Atiq Ahmed, and smuggled via Pakistan and Nepal using drones
The Zigana pistol has been used in high-profile murders and firing incidents in India. (News18 Hindi)
A Turkish-made weapon, the Zigana pistol, has emerged as a recurring name in India’s crime files, with its increasing presence in high-profile murders and gangster networks drawing the attention of security agencies.
The Zigana, manufactured by Turkish arms company TISAS, is a semi-automatic pistol banned in India but widely coveted in the underworld for its sleek design, reliability, and deadly efficiency. Its notoriety first rose when it was identified as the weapon used in the 2022 assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The pistol later resurfaced in the sensational 2023 murders of Uttar Pradesh gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf.
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More recently, a Zigana was recovered after a firing incident at the Bareilly residence of actress Disha Patani, smuggled into India through cross-border routes.
Investigations by Delhi Police’s Special Cell and the Uttar Pradesh Police point to an intricate smuggling network spanning Pakistan and Nepal, aided by the use of drones. Earlier, consignments were routed through Nepal, where pistols were dismantled, hidden in modified vehicle compartments, and transported into India. The weapons would then be reassembled before being supplied to gangs. The newer, more alarming trend involves drones dropping consignments along the Punjab border, drastically reducing risk for smugglers. Punjab Police recently cracked one such network, arresting two men linked to Pakistan.
Police sources revealed that these pistols, priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 10 lakh on the black market, are either imported directly via Nepal at about Rs 6 lakh each or procured in cheaper drone drops from Pakistan for around Rs 4 lakh. Many of these are sophisticated replicas produced in Pakistan’s Darra Adam Khel region, where thousands of gun shops manufacture near-perfect copies of international firearms.
The Zigana’s appeal among gangsters lies in its technical edge. Weighing between 720 and 920 grams, the 9mm pistol can fire 15 rounds in one magazine without jamming, unlike locally-made pistols that often malfunction after a few shots. Its lock slide short recoil operating system allows smooth firing without overheating. With 11 variants, including the F, K, and P models, the weapon adapts to varied operational needs.
Gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba have frequently been linked to the weapon, with police recently nabbing an arms supplier, Salim alias “Salim Pistol”, who confessed to supplying Zigana pistols to top syndicates. He is alleged to have connections with Pakistan’s ISI and Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company, and is believed to have provided the pistol used in Moosewala’s killing.
The Zigana’s reputation has gone beyond its performance to become a status symbol in gang circles. While other international weapons such as the Austrian Glock, Russian AN-94, and German P-30 also circulate, the Zigana remains the most prized. Police officials confirmed its use not just in the Moosewala and Atiq Ahmed cases, but also in multiple gang wars in Punjab, the attack plot on Salman Khan, and the murder of Baba Siddiqui.
September 18, 2025, 15:26 IST
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