Patiala Police Cracks Down on Inter-State Illegal Arms Network
In a significant breakthrough, the Patiala police have successfully busted an inter-state illegal arms supply module, leading to the arrest of four accused individuals. The operation resulted in the recovery of 10 sophisticated self-loading firearms from the possession of the suspects, as confirmed by Director General of Police (DGP, Punjab) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.
Arrested Accused and Their Backgrounds
The individuals apprehended in this high-stakes operation have been identified as:
- Saurabh Kumar, a resident of Jarang Deeh village in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
- Sajan, a resident of Sohana in SAS Nagar.
- Abhishek alias Kaka, a resident of Gurdeep Colony Ablowal in Patiala.
- Inderjit Singh alias Rohit, a resident of Old Bishan Nagar in Patiala.
Investigation Reveals Criminal Nexus and Gang Rivalry
According to DGP Gaurav Yadav, preliminary investigations have uncovered that the arrested accused were sourcing country-made weapons from Bihar and distributing them within Punjab to facilitate various criminal activities. Further probe into the matter has indicated a deeper layer of gang rivalry, with plans to target a rival criminal associated with the notorious Goldy Dhillon network to establish dominance in the region.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
A formal case has been registered under section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 25 of the Arms Act at the Shambu police station in Patiala. DGP Yadav emphasized that further investigation is actively underway to establish both backward and forward linkages in this case, with the ultimate goal of dismantling the entire criminal network.
Operational Details and Key Findings
Sharing operational insights, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP, Patiala) Varun Sharma revealed that the police received a crucial tip-off regarding Bihar-based Saurabh Kumar. He was allegedly supplying country-made self-loading pistols to notorious criminals under the direction of foreign-based handlers, with intentions to commit targeted killings.
In response, the CIA Patiala Unit and SHO Shambu, under the supervision of SP, Investigation, Patiala, Gurbans Singh Bains and DSP Harman Cheema, meticulously laid a trap that led to the successful arrest of the accused.
Supply Chain and Social Media Connections
SSP Varun Sharma further detailed that accused Saurabh Kumar was arranging weapons from illegally set up arms manufacturing units in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. These firearms were then transported to Punjab using various modes of transportation. During initial interrogations, it was also discovered that accused Abhishek was in contact with gangster Goldy Dhillon via social media platforms and was actively involved in the ongoing gang war, highlighting the digital dimension of criminal activities.
This operation marks a critical step in curbing illegal arms trafficking and gang violence in the region, with authorities committed to pursuing all leads to ensure comprehensive justice.
