Amritsar Police Busts Cross-Border Arms Module in Major Security Operation
In a significant breakthrough, the Amritsar (Rural) police have successfully dismantled a cross-border arms smuggling module, arresting two individuals and seizing a substantial cache of sophisticated weapons. The operation, conducted on Saturday, resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 assault rifle, three foreign-made Glock pistols, and 36 cartridges.
Drone-Dropped Consignment Intercepted Near Border Village
According to police officials, the weapon consignment was reportedly dropped by a Pakistani drone near the Muhawa border village in the Attari sub-division. The arms were concealed in a blue-coloured suitcase and were intended for delivery in the Gurdaspur border district. This interception follows a specific intelligence input that alerted authorities to the suspects' activities.
Targeted Attack on Senior Police Officials Foiled
The seized weapons were allegedly meant to target senior police officials in the aftermath of the state government and Punjab Police's flagship programme, 'Gangstara te Vaar'. This revelation comes in the wake of a previous incident in February, where an ASI and a home guard were shot dead at the Dorangla police outpost in Gurdaspur.
Amritsar (Rural) SSP Sohail Qasim Mir stated, "During the operation, we seized one AK-47 assault rifle, two magazines, 36 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, three Glock pistols, four magazines, and four rounds from the possession of the accused." He emphasized that the arms were specifically intended to harm senior police personnel.
ISI-Backed Module with Foreign Handlers Uncovered
Investigations have revealed that the module was backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), with the accused maintaining contact with two foreign-based handlers through encrypted mobile applications. The two arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Amarjeet Singh alias Rohit, a resident of Chheharta
- Gursewak Singh, a resident of Navi Abadi in Attari
SSP Mir confirmed that two mobile phones seized from the accused have provided crucial leads regarding their communications with handlers across the border. Preliminary investigations have also uncovered additional names, and efforts are underway to apprehend other individuals connected to the module.
Swift Police Action and Judicial Proceedings
Acting on the intelligence input, police conducted a swift raid and apprehended the suspects as they were allegedly transporting the weapon consignment. The accused were produced before a local court on Friday evening, which remanded them to five days of police custody for further interrogation.
This operation marks a significant achievement in counter-terrorism efforts along the Punjab border, highlighting the ongoing challenges of cross-border weapon smuggling and the sophisticated methods employed by terror networks. The successful bust demonstrates the vigilance of Amritsar police in preventing potential attacks and maintaining regional security.
