Punjab police bust cross-border arms network, seize AK-47 and grenades in Amritsar

Amritsar Rural Police said on Sunday they had dismantled an alleged illegal arms and explosives supply network, arresting a 28-year-old man and recovering an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, nine live cartridges, two hand grenades, a mobile phone and a motorcycle.

An FIR has been registered at the Gharinda police station under the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, and further investigation is under way to trace the network’s forward and backward linkages, police said.

The accused was identified as Navjot Singh, 28, alias Cheema, a resident of Sarai Manthan Khan and a truck driver who had previously been involved in drug-related activities, according to the police.

Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar told ANI the operation was led by Amritsar Rural SSP Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal and his team, and was carried out under the Punjab government’s stated zero-tolerance policy against organised crime, gangsters and terrorism.

Bhullar alleged the weapons and explosives had been pushed into Indian territory through drones, and claimed the investigation had revealed links to a Pakistan-based handler associated with the ISI as well as another handler based in the Middle East. According to Bhullar, the accused was tasked with taking the weapons to a location in a neighbouring district to meet another person through a cut-out arrangement, had been promised up to 50,000 rupees, and had received no money before his arrest.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X that a preliminary investigation had revealed the accused was allegedly linked to foreign-based smugglers and was involved in procuring illegal weapons. Bhullar termed the recovery a major preventive success.

The Tribune reported the seizure was the second recovery of an assault rifle by the Amritsar rural police in four days: on September 30, police recovered an AK-47, an AK-56, four magazines, live cartridges and more than 10kg of heroin from three people, including a couple.

Sources: https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/punjab-police-bust-pakistan-linked-terror-module-arrest-28-year-old-with-ak-47-grenades-7632499.html | https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/ak-47-rifle-2-hand-grenades-recovered-as-punjab-police-dismantles-illegal-arms-network/ | https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/punjab-police-bust-arms-smuggling-network-one-arrested-with-arms-and-ammunition-enn26100403978