The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition in Amritsar, including an AK-47 rifle, 25 pistols, and a bulletproof jacket, revealing the scale of operations by Pakistan-based handlers and their local associates to smuggle weaponry into Punjab.
Bulletproof Jacket Points to Terror Plot
The recovery of a bulletproof jacket, believed to be intended for an attacker's protection, suggests preparations for a possible terror strike, according to a BSF source. The official noted that such protective gear is rarely found in routine arms-smuggling cases. "Its presence indicates that the consignment may have been meant for an operational module, not merely for storage or distribution," sources said.
Details of the Seizure
The BSF recovered one AK-47 rifle, 25 pistols, 47 pistol magazines, a lightweight bulletproof jacket, and 368 rounds of ammunition. An Indian national from the Harar Khurd area in the Ajnala sector has been detained in connection with the recovery. Security agencies suspect the consignment was dropped by drones from across the border, though no drone has been recovered yet.
Investigation and Network
Investigators believe the weapons were intended for distribution through a well-organized network operating in the region. They are also probing the role of an Australia-based handler suspected of coordinating the network. Preliminary findings indicate the recovered weapons were meant to strengthen sleeper cells and criminal-terror modules activated by hostile elements across the border.
Heightened Surveillance
Following the recovery, all security agencies have intensified surveillance across border districts and stepped up efforts to track drone-based smuggling routes. The operation underscores the ongoing threat of cross-border arms smuggling and its potential to fuel terrorism in the region.
