Six pistols seized in two incidents; 1 nabbed

CIA staff has arrested an alleged cross-border weapon smuggler and seized five pistols reportedly smuggled in from Pakistan. Though officials remained tight-lipped as the investigation is still under way, the accused has been identified as Balwinder Singh, alias Bohar, of Bhindi Nain village.

The police recovered two .30-bore pistols, three PX5 pistols and a motorcycle from his possession. A case under the Arms Act has been registered, and further investigations are on to dismantle the entire network involved.

Meanwhile, the Amritsar Rural Police arrested a man with a .30-bore pistol, live cartridges, a Swift car and a mobile phone during a special operation, though his accomplice managed to escape.

The arrested accused, Harjinder Singh, is a resident of Sathiala under the Beas police station. According to officials, Mehta police received a tip-off that Tegvinder Singh, alias Jagga, of Patti Khoohi Vehra, Sathiala, and Harjinder Singh were roaming in a Swift car (registration number DL 2C AL 4430) with illegal weapons, allegedly planning to commit a crime.

Acting on the information, police set up a naka near the Dhardeo bypass. After some time, the Swift approached the checkpoint. When signalled to stop, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby fields.

Police apprehended the occupant in the co-driver’s seat, who identified himself as Harjinder Singh. During the search, police recovered a .30-bore unnumbered pistol, two live cartridges and a mobile phone found on the driver’s seat, later confirmed to belong to the absconding accused, Tegvinder Singh, alias Jagga.

A case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered at the Mehta police station.