Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
In a major crackdown on illegal arms smuggling, Amritsar Police have arrested four accused and recovered 16 pistols from their possession. Two of the arrested individuals are juveniles who were allegedly lured with money and used as couriers by the handlers of a cross-border smuggling network.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations had revealed that the sophisticated weapons were dropped into Indian territory from across the border using drones. The illegal arms were allegedly intended to be distributed among criminal elements through a well-organised smuggling network.
According to the police, foreign-based smugglers are increasingly targeting minors by tempting them with financial incentives and drawing them into illegal activities. The juveniles arrested in this case were allegedly being used as pawns by the gang's key operatives to carry out their activities.
DGP said timely police action had helped avert a potentially serious criminal incident in the state. The arrests and recoveries have exposed suspected links in an organised illegal arms supply chain, with investigators now working to identify other members of the network.
Separate FIRs have been registered under relevant legal provisions at the Cantonment and Gate Hakima police stations in connection with the arrests and recoveries.
Police teams are questioning the accused to establish the source of the weapons, identify the handlers operating from abroad and trace the intended recipients of the firearms. Investigators are also examining how the juveniles were recruited into the illegal trade and the role played by other members of the network.
Raids are underway based on information gathered during interrogation. Police officials indicated that further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses and efforts intensify to dismantle the entire arms-smuggling network.
