Amritsar Rural police bust Pakistan-linked gangster module; six arrested, 10 Pakistani pistols seized
PTC Web Desk: In a major breakthrough against organised crime and cross-border arms smuggling, the Amritsar Rural Police, in coordination with intelligence agencies, has dismantled a Pakistan-linked gangster module and recovered 10 Pakistani-made pistols along with ammunition and narcotics. Six key accused have been arrested in the operation, the police said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, Border Range DIG Harminder Singh Gill said the operation was carried out jointly by Amritsar Rural Police and intelligence agencies, leading to the exposure of a significant gangster and illegal arms trafficking network with alleged links to foreign-based criminal elements.
Among those arrested are Jaskaran Singh alias Dona and Naresh Kumar alias Mani. The police recovered five pistols, nine magazines and live cartridges from Jaskaran Singh, while three pistols and other incriminating material were seized from Naresh Kumar. During police remand, the accused also led investigators to the recovery of narcotic substances.
The DIG further revealed that Parwaljit Singh alias Sonu and his aide Nishan Singh were also arrested during the operation. Preliminary investigations have indicated their involvement in multiple firing incidents across the region. The police suspect that the duo acted as key shooters in the murder of advocate Lakhwinder Singh in Jandiala Guru.
Gill said intelligence inputs have also pointed towards possible links between some of the arrested accused and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These leads are being thoroughly investigated.
According to investigators, several of the accused maintained connections with foreign-based gangsters, including Happy Pasia, Happy Jatt and other members of transnational criminal networks. The gang allegedly received weapons smuggled into Punjab through drones and planned criminal activities using the illegal arms.
“Gangsters and criminals often operate for financial gains. They create fear by carrying out firing incidents and later extort money from businessmen and other targets,” DIG Gill said, adding that the latest operation has dealt a significant blow to such networks operating in the state.
The DIG said they had intensified efforts to curb criminal activities, particularly in view of the upcoming elections. He warned that anti-national and anti-social elements may attempt to disturb the state’s peaceful atmosphere and communal harmony.
The DIG also informed that investigations into the murder of police personnel Joga Singh are progressing rapidly and expressed confidence that the case would be solved soon.
- PTC NEWS
