Four arrested with arms at Attari check post

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 5

The customs authorities seized four pistols and seven magazines from four Indian passengers who returned from Pakistan at the Attari check post here today.

Sources said the authorities confiscated the arms that had been concealed in two tins in the possession of the accused. They have been identified as Mohammad Ismail, a resident of Gadera in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. He was accompanied by his wife Parvari Begum, daughter Shamina and a relative Shakeena.

Capt Sanjay Gahlot, Commissioner, Customs Preventive Commissionrate, informed that the suspect had gone to attend a marriage function at Jhand in Pakistan on April 21.

“During inspection of their luggage, it was found that Ismail was carrying two cylindrical steel containers which appeared to be slightly out of shape and were heavy as compared to normal ones,” said Gahlot. He said the containers were later opened and officials found other cylindrical steel containers of smaller dimensions inside them which were welded from inside.

When the containers were removed, the officials found arms stashed in the vacant spaces inside the containers.

“Each container had two pistols and seven magazines which were wrapped in black carbon paper and adhesive tape to avoid x-ray detection. Out of these three pistols are of Turkish origin while one was of Italian origin,” he said.

All the accused had been detained for questioning.

BSF DIG Sumer Singh revealed that the accused had been given Rs 10, 000 by a person in Shamli for bringing the containers. However, it was yet to be ascertained whether the accused knew about the arms or not.