Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
In a major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign to rid Punjab of illegal weapons and gangster networks, the Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) wing has busted a large arms smuggling module in Amritsar and arrested three accused. The operation led to the recovery of a significant cache of sophisticated foreign-made weapons.
According to police officials, the arrested individuals were found in possession of seven foreign-made .30 bore pistols and four live cartridges. The recovered weapons have been sent for technical examination to determine their exact origin and manufacturing source.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were allegedly working under the directions of a key handler operating from abroad. Police said the consignment of illegal weapons had been smuggled into India through cross-border channels and was intended for distribution among criminals and gangsters across various districts of Punjab.
The timely operation prevented the weapons from reaching criminal elements, dealing a major blow to organized crime networks in the state.
Following the recovery, a case has been registered under relevant sections at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar. Investigating agencies are now probing both the forward and backward linkages of the network to identify the intended recipients of the weapons as well as the suppliers behind the smuggling racket.
Police are also examining whether the module has any connections with anti-national activities or larger gangster syndicates operating within and outside the country.
