The Turkish-made Zigana pistol has emerged as a recurring weapon of choice in several high-profile crimes across India, raising concerns about illegal arms smuggling and the growing nexus between organized crime and access to sophisticated firearms. Recent incidents, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and the firing at Bollywood actress Disha Patani's house in Bareilly, have brought the notoriety of this weapon into sharp focus.

The Zigana pistol is favored by gangsters for its compact design, high accuracy, ability to fire over 15 rounds smoothly without jamming or overheating, and easy availability through illegal channels. According to a senior police officer, its capability to release multiple rounds with a single trigger pull makes it a prime choice for criminal activities. While manufactured in Turkey, these pistols are banned in India and are often smuggled from Pakistan via drones or through air cargo routes from Nepal. The cost of a Zigana pistol can range from ₹4 to ₹6 lakh, depending on the smuggling route.

The use of Zigana pistols isn't limited to the aforementioned cases. They were also used in the killings of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj in 2023, as well as in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai in 2024. These incidents highlight the weapon's increasing prevalence in the Indian criminal underworld.

In the recent incident involving Disha Patani's house, shooters from the Rohit Godara-Goldy Brar gang fired multiple rounds at her residence on September 12, 2025. The shooters, identified as Arun and Ravindra, were later killed in a police encounter in Ghaziabad. Authorities recovered a Zigana pistol and an Austrian Glock from the encounter site. The investigation revealed that the shooters had conducted reconnaissance outside Patani's home using two motorcycles before the attack. Police have scanned over 2,000 CCTV footage clips to track the suspects' movements and are searching for the remaining accused.

Salim Pistol, described as one of India's largest arms suppliers, revealed that he was the first to supply Zigana pistols to gangsters in India, after which the demand for the pistol increased among criminals. He added that these pistols are smuggled from Pakistan either by drone or via Nepal air cargo.

The repeated use of Zigana pistols in these high-profile crimes has prompted serious concerns among law enforcement agencies. The ease with which these weapons are being smuggled into the country and their subsequent use by criminal gangs underscores the urgent need for stricter border control and enhanced intelligence gathering. Moreover, it highlights the need to disrupt the supply chains that facilitate the illegal arms trade and to crack down on the organized crime networks that utilize these weapons.