The Amritsar commissionerate police on Monday claimed to have dismantled a cross-border illegal arms smuggling and hawala network with the arrest of four individuals, including an Afghan national. Eight sophisticated pistols were seized from their possession.
Details of the Arrests
Those arrested have been identified as Esmailkhel Tawhid (30), a resident of Afghanistan currently living in Pune, Maharashtra; Mangjit Singh (20) and Shamsher Singh (26), both residents of village Fatehabad in Tarn Taran; and Gurlal Singh (42), a resident of village Rajatal, Amritsar.
Seized Items
The police recovered one .30 bore Beretta, four 9MM Glock pistols, three .30 bore pistols, along with seven live cartridges. Additionally, an Activa scooter was impounded.
Investigation Details
Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based smuggler who supplied illegal weapon consignments through concealed drop locations. The recovered arms were reportedly intended for delivery to criminal elements for further distribution.
Bhullar explained that acting on reliable inputs, police teams apprehended Mangjit Singh and Shamsher Singh, seizing three illegal pistols and seven live cartridges. Following a comprehensive investigation into the foreign-based smuggling network, police arrested Gurlal Singh, during whose search three additional pistols were found. Gurlal's interrogation led to the recovery of two more pistols from a location he pinpointed.
Further disclosures during the investigation led to the arrest of Esmailkhel Tawhid, who was operating a hawala network under the guise of a dry fruit business. He facilitated financial transactions connected to the illegal arms smuggling racket.
Legal Action
Two separate cases have been registered: one under Sections 25 and 25(7) of the Arms Act at police station Islamabad, and another under Sections 25, 25(8), and 29 of the Arms Act at police station Gate Hakima.
