Major cross-border weapon haul in Amritsar; 27 high-end pistols seized

The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has achieved a major success in its fight against organized crime by busting a sophisticated cross-border arms smuggling module. In a precision-led operation, the police apprehended six individuals and seized six high-end weapons along with ₹5.75 lakh in hawala money. This significant breakthrough highlights the growing threat of illegal weapons being funneled into the state and the determination of law enforcement to counter it.

The police have identified the syndicate's mastermind as Mehakpreet Singh, also known as Rohit. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the entire operation was orchestrated by Mehakpreet from Punjab under the direct instructions of his foreign-based handlers, who used social media for communication. In a testament to the police’s intelligence network, the kingpin was tracked down and apprehended from his hideout in Goa, a move that exposed the wide-reaching nature of the criminal network.

The operation was executed in multiple stages, with recoveries being made at different points of the investigation. The initial breakthrough came with the arrest of Pargat Singh, from whom two weapons from a cross-border consignment were seized. Based on the intelligence gathered from him, the police then arrested three more individuals—Ajaybir Singh, Karanbir Singh, and Shri Ram—and recovered an additional weapon. These arrests revealed the multiple layers of the syndicate's distribution network.

The police also focused on the financial trail behind the arms trade. The investigation revealed that the proceeds from the illegal sale of weapons were routed through a hawala network to avoid detection. Acting on this lead, the police arrested Dinesh Kumar, who was found in possession of ₹5.75 lakh, confirming his role as the hawala agent for the syndicate. This bust not only neutralizes the arms smugglers but also dismantles their illicit financial support system.

The recovered arsenal included a mix of powerful weapons, such as one Glock 9MM, three PX5 .30 Bore pistols, one .32 Bore, and another .30 Bore pistol. All the apprehended individuals have been booked, and a formal First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Gate Hakima Police Station in Amritsar. Police officials stated that the investigation is still active, with efforts underway to trace both the forward and backward linkages of the module, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.

DGP Punjab Police said, "In a major breakthrough, Counter Intelligence, Ferozepur Zone in a joint operation with #SSOC, Fazilka busts a cross-border organised arms smuggling module near the Indo–Pak International Border and recovers 27 illegal pistols (.30 bore) and 470 live cartridges." (sic)