Another arms smuggler in Moga extortion case held

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 11

The NIA today said it had undertaken a search operation in Meerut and arrested 32-year-old Mohd Asif Ali, an arms smuggler, in connection with a case related to extortion by Khalistani terrorists in Punjab’s Moga district. Officials said during the search, two country-made pistols of 0.315 bore, 10 live rounds, a mobile phone, two SIM cards and a memory card were seized.

The agency also searched the premises of another arms trafficker, Paramjit Singh alias Mangal, a resident of Hastinapur in Meerut district. Cash amounting to Rs 9 lakh, mobile phones and incriminating documents were seized.

The case was registered by the Punjab Police in Moga on May 22 following information that Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, Charanjit Singh alias Rinku and Ramandeep Singh alias Jajj, all living abroad, had formed a gang and were threatening and extorting money from businessmen in Punjab. The NIA was handed over the case on June 10.

“Investigations revealed that the accused would purchase arms and ammunition from Ali and further supply these to another accused Kamaljeet Sharma alias Kamal and his accomplices. These arms were used for targeted killings and for extorting money from businessmen of Punjab,” a senior NIA official said.