Punjab Police bust cross-border arms network: 8 arrested, 11 pistols seized in Amritsar
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module on Thursday, 18 June, arresting eight accused and recovering 11 sophisticated pistols along with eight cartridges. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav confirmed the operation, which targeted a network allegedly supplied by foreign-based operatives using drones.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, police teams first arrested Gulabjit Singh (21) and Harpreet Singh (23), recovering two pistols from their possession. Subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of Gurpreet Singh (24), from whom four more pistols were seized.
Based on disclosures made by Gurpreet Singh, officers then apprehended Kuljit Singh (39) and Shamsher Singh (40), yielding two additional pistols. A further phase of the operation netted Aman Rana (20) and Sharanjit Singh, with two more pistols recovered. The eighth accused, Ajay Singh (23), was also arrested. Police additionally impounded the motorcycle used by the accused.
The Arsenal Recovered
The 11 pistols seized comprise four .30 bore pistols manufactured in China, four .30 bore PX5 Storm pistols, one .30 bore Zigana pistol, one 9 mm Glock pistol made in Austria, and one additional 9 mm pistol also made in Austria. The variety and origin of the weapons point to an organised, multi-source procurement chain, according to investigators.
Drone Drops at Attari Sector
Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that during interrogation, accused Gurpreet Singh disclosed he was in contact with a foreign-based gangster through social media applications. According to Bhullar, the foreign operative was allegedly arranging illegal weapon consignments via drones at different locations in the Attari sector — a border zone with Pakistan. The recovered arms were intended for distribution among criminal elements for use in extortion, violent crimes, and other unlawful activities, police said.
Prior Criminal Records
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Harpreet Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Sharanjit Singh, and Ajay Singh were allegedly involved in previous cases pertaining to murder, attempt to murder, offences under the Arms Act, the NDPS Act, and theft. DGP Yadav said further investigation is underway to identify other associates and ascertain additional recoveries and arrests.
This bust is part of a broader pattern of Punjab Police operations targeting cross-border arms pipelines, with the Attari corridor emerging as a recurring flashpoint for drone-based weapon drops linked to foreign-based gangsters.