Punjab Police Cracks Down on Inter-State Illegal Weapons Supply Network
In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Police's counter-intelligence wing in Jalandhar has dismantled an inter-state illegal weapons supply module, leading to the arrest of two individuals from Uttar Pradesh. The operation resulted in the recovery of 10 country-made pistols and 20 magazines, highlighting a sophisticated network with international connections.
Arrests and Seizures in Mathura Operation
The accused have been identified as Dalesh Kumar, also known as Saurav Kumar or Nannu, from Paindapur village in Aligarh, and Amit Chahar from Baseri Chahar village in Agra. According to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the arrests were made in Mathura, where initial recoveries included five pistols and 10 magazines from Dalesh Kumar's car. Following his interrogation, an additional five pistols and 10 magazines were seized from the Mathura-Palwal Highway.
This development comes nearly a month after the arrest of two Babbar Khalsa International operatives, Sukhwinder alias Sunny and Rawal, who were involved in procuring and placing three grenades and one IED near Balachaur under foreign-based handler Jassi Kulam. The same IED was later used in the blast at the Nalagarh police station in Himachal Pradesh, underscoring the ongoing threats from such networks.
Foreign Links and Criminal Activities Uncovered
DGP Yadav revealed that the investigation has uncovered that the two UP-based accused were operating under the direction of foreign criminals based in Germany and the USA. These international handlers were actively supplying weapons to criminal gangs in Punjab, exacerbating the state's security challenges.
Both individuals were also implicated in procuring weapons and carrying out firing incidents for extortion purposes, specifically at a travel agent's residence in Garhshankar, as directed by their foreign-based handlers. This highlights the multifaceted nature of their criminal operations, which extended beyond mere arms smuggling to include violent acts aimed at intimidation and financial gain.
Legal Actions and Ongoing Investigations
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act at the Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar. The Punjab Police are continuing their probe to trace further links and dismantle the entire network, emphasizing their commitment to curbing illegal arms trafficking and enhancing public safety.
This bust underscores the critical role of intelligence-led policing in tackling cross-border and inter-state criminal activities, with authorities urging vigilance and cooperation from the public to combat such threats effectively.
