Chandigarh, Oct 21 The Amritsar Rural Police busted a drug trafficking, illegal arms, and explosives smuggling network with the arrest of seven individuals, including three juveniles, in two separate operations.
A hand grenade, two .30 bore pistols along with 29 live cartridges and 3.4 kg heroin have been recovered from their possession, said Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on Wednesday.
Those arrested in the first operation have been identified as Ajay (28) and Robin Masih (22). Those apprehended in the second operation include Gurlal Singh (20) and Rashpal Singh (18), along with three 17-year-old juveniles. Police have also impounded their unregistered motorcycle.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based smugglers and smuggling illegal weapons for further distribution among criminal elements.
Further investigation is underway to uncover the complete network and establish backwards and forward linkages, he said.
Sharing details of the first operation, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Border Range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that Amritsar Rural Police received reliable input that Ajay was procuring drone-dropped heroin and illegal firearms from across the border to supply them onward on directions from foreign-based gangsters.
Acting swiftly, the police, in coordination with a central agency, set up a special checkpoint in the Manawala area and intercepted Ajay with his accomplice Robin Masih riding a motorcycle, he said.
A search of the bag carried by pillion rider Ajay led to the recovery of nearly 3.4 kg heroin and a .30 bore pistol along with 19 live rounds, Bhullar said.
In the second operation, during joint patrolling on Dussehra, a joint team of Crime Investigation Agency and SHO Lopoke received specific inputs about a cross-border smuggler pushing consignments of arms and explosives through local youth.
Acting on the input, police intercepted the group during checking and recovered one live hand grenade, one .30 bore pistol along with 10 live rounds from their possession.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar Rural Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal said that Ajay is a drug addict and a habitual criminal facing at least five cases, including four under the NDPS Act and one under the Arms Act.
(PTI News)
