CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: A huge cache of 48 foreign-made pistols was seized on Thursday night and a weapons smuggler was arrested from near Kathunangal in Amritsar district of Punjab.
during checking of a vehicle at a checkpoint.
Punjab police claimed that the smuggler was linked to Pakistan-based terrorist outfits and anti-India pro-Khalistani elements based in USA, Canada and UK.
Cops also claimed that he was operating under a USA-based handler.
Police said the weapons were meant for carrying out terrorist activities in various parts of India.
Jagjit Singh alias Jaggu (25), resident of Purian Kalan in Batala, was arrested by a team of Punjab internal security wing, state special operation cell (SSOC) Amritsar, said Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta Additional Director General Police (ADGP), internal security, R N Dhoke informed media persons on Friday that SSOC Amritsar intercepted an i-20 car (PB-06-AN-7016) at a specially-laid police naka on Amritsar-Batala road, at Kathunangal village and arrested Jagjit Singh.
Dhoke said police recovered 48 foreign-made pistols of different makes and bores, along with magazines and ammunition.
The cache included 19 pistols of 9 mm (Zigana-made in Turkey), 37 magazines and 45 rounds; 9 pistols of .30 bore (made in China) and 22 magazines; 19 pistols of .30 bore (Star mark), 38 magazines and 148 rounds; and one pistol of 9mm (Baretta-Italian) and two magazines.
The DGP said preliminary investigations had revealed that Jagjit had been directed by US-based Darmanjit Singh alias Darman Kahlon, a former gangster, to collect the weapon consignment.
During his stay in Dubai from 2017 to December 2020, Jagjit had remained in touch with Kahlon who motivated him to work for him.
Kahlon had tasked Jagjit to collect and conceal the weapon consignment and wait for further instructions for their delivery, said the DGP.
He added that the openended warrants of Kahlon, a proclaimed offender in Punjab, have been obtained.
Kahlon, who originally belonged to Talwandi Khumman village in Amritsar, was involved in various criminal activities in Punjab before his escape to the USA in 2017 to evade arrest.
He facilitated the escape of notorious gangster Harwinder Singh alias Mannu from police custody in 2017 along with his associates.
Kahlon was declared proclaimed offender in January 2020.
The DGP said that an FIR under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act has been registered at police station SSOC Amritsar on June 10 with regard to last night’s seizure.