Punjab Police Bust Cross-Border Arms Module
The Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police has dismantled an alleged cross-border arms and explosives smuggling network with the arrest of three suspected operatives linked to the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The police recovered six hand grenades, 12 sophisticated pistols, and live ammunition from their possession.
The arrested suspects were identified as Chintu, Jobanpreet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, all residents of Kakkar village near the India-Pakistan border. The police also seized a Hyundai i20 car allegedly used for transporting the consignment.
Investigations Reveal Foreign Links
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that preliminary investigations suggested the accused were operating under the direction of a foreign-based smuggler allegedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI and overseas BKI operatives. The accused reportedly received the consignment from the Ajnala area and planned to deliver it to other associates for activities aimed at disturbing public order in Punjab.
The recovered cache included six hand grenades, eight .30-bore pistols, four 9 mm pistols, and nine live cartridges. According to the DGP, the Counter Intelligence unit received specific information that the accused would transport weapons and explosives to their associates near the underpass on the Bharatmala bypass highway along the Amritsar-Chogawan road.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Acting on the intelligence input, the police set up a checkpoint, intercepted the i20 car, and recovered the arms and explosives during a search. The police stated that further investigations are underway to trace the module’s forward and backward linkages, identify the foreign handlers, and uncover the wider network allegedly involved in the smuggling operation.
A case was registered at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar under relevant provisions of the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused.
