AMRITSAR: The 48 foreign-made pistols and the huge ammunition recovered by the internal security wing of Punjab Police on Friday may have been meant to derail the 2022 assembly elections in the state, sources said.
According to highly placed sources, the US-based Darmanjot Singh alias Draman Kahlon was allegedly in touch with Pakistan’s ISI that had been supporting remnant of Khalistani militants.
Read AlsoPunjab: Man held with 48 foreign-made pistolsSleuths of the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), an internal wing of the Punjab Police, arrested a 25-year-old man after recovering 48 foreign-made pistols from his possession in Amritsar district.Sources informed TOI that since all the weapons were Chinese and Turkish made, there is a possibility that they could have been smuggled from across the border.
“We are yet to know whether these arms and ammunition were smuggled into India from Punjab or Jammu and Kashmir Union territory border and when and where they were to be used,” said sources.
Police had recovered 48 pistols, 97 magazines, and 193 rounds of different calibres from a Batala-based 25-yr-old man Jagjit Singh.
The Additional Director General Police, Internal Security, RN Dhoke had told media persons on Friday that the smuggled weapons were meant to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India.
“Prediction market suggests that ISI backed Khalistan elements could strategically plan their attacks in India especially in Punjab around election time and the smuggling of a large number of sophisticated weapons and ammunition is seen as part of ISI’s strategy to shift voters mindset or turn voters against the government by creating discord and anarchy, “said sources.
Besides, sources informed that Darman’s alleged involvement in the smuggling was the biggest indicator of the hand of ISI-backed Khalistani militants in the smuggling of arms and ammunition into India.
Draman had also directed Jagjit to conceal the weaponry and wait for further instructions.
When contacted Dhoke refused to comment stating that it was not appropriate to divulge any information about the smuggling operation and the target of militants while the investigation was in progress.