Cross-border drug, arms networks busted in Punjab’s Amritsar; 7 arrested
Ten illegal pistols, 2.030 kg heroin and three live cartridges recovered in two cases
Amritsar police have arrested seven persons in two cases involving alleged cross-border drug and illegal arms supply networks, recovering 10 illegal pistols, 2.030 kg of heroin and three live cartridges.
In the first case, police arrested five persons and recovered seven illegal pistols and 2.030 kg of heroin. In the separate Tarsikka case, two persons were arrested and three illegal pistols and three live cartridges were recovered.
The city police have registered two FIRs at the Islamabad and Sultanwind police stations. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused in the arms case were allegedly in contact with foreign-based smugglers and were procuring illegal weapons for further supply in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts.
The police are verifying the alleged links with foreign-based handlers and investigating the forward and backward linkages to identify other persons associated with the networks.
In the separate Tarsikka case, two persons were arrested during a checking operation and three illegal pistols and three live cartridges were recovered. A third suspect, allegedly involved in supplying the weapons, is absconding.
According to the police, a team was patrolling and checking suspicious persons when it spotted two youths riding a motorcycle without a registration number near the road leading from the highway towards Mucchal village. The duo allegedly attempted to flee but were intercepted.
The suspects were identified as Sikander Singh, a resident of Gehri Mandi, and Avinash Kumar alias Kalu, a resident of Railway Colony, Gehri Mandi. A pistol without a magazine was allegedly recovered from Sikander, while two pistols and three live cartridges were recovered from Avinash.
The police also seized the motorcycle used by the duo.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that the weapons had been provided by Sikander Singh alias Ghuggi, for sale to an unidentified person. Police teams are conducting raids to arrest him and establish the identity of the intended buyer.
An FIR has been registered at Tarsikka police station under the Arms Act.
