Punjab Police’s Counter-Intelligence unit in Amritsar arrested a man and recovered five illegal pistols, including high-powered firearms, allegedly supplied through cross-border networks, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Jodhbir Singh, a resident of Naushera in Tarn Taran district, was apprehended based on a specific intelligence input, according to a post by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) on social media.
Recovered Firearms
From Singh’s possession, the police recovered five pistols:
- Two PX5 pistols
- One .30 bore pistol (Star marked)
- Two 9mm Glock pistols
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Singh was allegedly in contact with a Pakistan-based drug smuggler, who facilitated the supply of illegal weapons into India through cross-border routes.
Investigations Underway
An FIR has been registered by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar, and further investigations have been initiated to identify Singh’s associates and to trace the linkages of the smuggling network, both backwards and forward.
In a statement, DGP Gaurav Yadav assured the public, saying:
“Punjab Police remains firmly committed to maintaining peace and harmony across the state.”
Additional Operations and Arrests
Earlier, Amritsar Rural Police had apprehended two operatives of a terror module following a brief encounter near Ramdas city. The operatives, identified as Vishal Masih and Lovepreet Singh, both residents of Jafarkot, opened fire at police personnel during a chase but were swiftly overpowered. Weapons and explosives were recovered from their possession.
On April 27, the Counter-Intelligence Unit in Amritsar also busted an illegal weapon smuggling module with links to Pakistan. During the operation, Abhishek Kumar was arrested, and the police recovered:
- Seven pistols
- Four live cartridges (.30 bore)
- Rs 1,50,000 in cash
International Connections
Investigations revealed that the smuggling network operates in collaboration with an Australia-based individual named Jassa, who works closely with Pakistan-based smugglers. Jassa, along with his local associates Jodhbir Singh and Abhishek Kumar, is suspected of orchestrating the smuggling of illegal arms and ammunition through the Indo-Pak border.
Additionally, the involvement of Hawala transactions indicates that this network may have broader criminal activities tied to international funding.