Rawla drone arms smuggling: Mastermind Kulwant Singh arrested, RDX and Pak-linked weapons recovered
Synopsis
The alleged mastermind of the Rawla drone arms drop — Kulwant Singh alias Sukkha — has been arrested in Punjab, cracking open a suspected Pakistan-directed smuggling network. With 7.75 kg of RDX, two foreign-made Zigana pistols and 867 cartridges already recovered barely a kilometre from the India-Pakistan border, investigators are now racing to trace the weapons' intended destination and dismantle the cross-border chain.
Key Takeaways
Kulwant Singh , alias Sukkha , alleged mastermind of the Rawla drone arms smuggling case , has been arrested in Punjab .
He is accused of directing two Punjab men to collect a drone-dropped consignment on the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler identified as 'Chacha Ali' .
The Rajasthan ATS is preparing to take Sukkha into formal custody; two earlier accused have been sent to judicial custody .
The consignment seized on 12 October included 7.75 kg of RDX , two Zigana pistols , four magazines , and 867 cartridges — recovered near the Khanuwali Border Outpost , about 1 km from the India-Pakistan border.
The ATS and Special Operations Group (SOG) are probing the intended destination of the weapons and additional operatives in the network.
Investigative agencies have arrested Kulwant Singh, alias Sukkha, the alleged mastermind of the Rawla drone-based arms smuggling case, in a significant breakthrough in the cross-border weapons network that reportedly operated under the direction of a Pakistan-based handler. Sukkha was apprehended in Punjab and is accused of orchestrating the retrieval of explosives and foreign-made firearms allegedly dropped by a drone from across the India-Pakistan border into the Rawla area of Rajasthan.
The Pakistan Connection
According to preliminary investigations, Kulwant Singh was in regular contact with a Pakistan-based handler identified only as 'Chacha Ali'. Investigators allege that Chacha Ali directed Sukkha to dispatch two men from Punjab to recover a consignment dropped by a drone in Rawla. Sukkha is currently being questioned by intelligence agencies in Punjab, and the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is preparing to formally take him into custody.
Earlier Arrests and Court Proceedings
Two men arrested earlier in the case — Lakhwinder Singh Raisikh of Ferozepur district and Sukhwinder Singh Raisikh of Jalandhar district, both in Punjab — were produced before a court on Wednesday after their police remand expired. Additional Superintendent of Police (ATS) Surendra Kumar confirmed that the court ordered both accused into judicial custody. During questioning, the duo allegedly disclosed Sukkha's role, identifying him as a resident of Alika village in Punjab and the person who instructed them to travel to Rawla to collect the consignment.
Senior officers including Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Dinesh M.N., ADG Biju George Joseph, and Deputy Inspector General (ATS) Ramamurthy Joshi have all participated in questioning the accused as part of the widening investigation.
How the Case Came to Light
The operation was first detected on the night of 12 October, when security agencies received intelligence that a drone had dropped three packets in a field at Chak 4 KNM, under the 12 KND Gram Panchayat in the Rawla area — approximately one kilometre from the Khanuwali Border Outpost (BOP) along the India-Pakistan border. A joint operation involving the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), the Border Security Force (BSF), and other security agencies led to the interception and arrest of the two men who had allegedly arrived to collect the packets.
What Was Recovered
The seized consignment included 7.75 kilograms of RDX, two Zigana pistols, four magazines, 867 cartridges, along with batteries and remote-control devices. The Zigana is a Turkish-manufactured semi-automatic pistol, and its recovery points to a sophisticated foreign supply chain, according to investigators. The Rajasthan ATS and Special Operations Group (SOG) are examining suspected links between the Pakistan-based handler, the Punjab network, and the individuals tasked with the retrieval in Rajasthan.
Investigation in Progress
Investigators are working to establish the intended destination of the explosives and weapons, and to identify other individuals connected with the operation. Officials cautioned that the allegations remain subject to investigation and that the precise role of each accused will be determined through the legal process. The arrest of Sukkha is expected to open new leads into the alleged smuggling network and its broader reach within India.
Point of View
Routed through handlers in Pakistan and retrieved by local operatives recruited across state lines. What stands out here is the combination of RDX — a high-grade military explosive — with foreign-manufactured Zigana pistols, which signals a supply chain with access to Turkish arms, not just improvised or locally sourced weapons. Investigators still have the hardest questions unanswered: where were the weapons headed, and who was the end-user? Until those links are established, the arrest of Sukkha, however significant, represents the middle of the chain rather than its head or its intended target.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kulwant Singh alias Sukkha and why was he arrested?
Kulwant Singh, alias Sukkha, is a resident of Alika village in Punjab who is accused of masterminding the Rawla drone-based arms smuggling operation. He allegedly directed two Punjab men to retrieve a consignment of RDX, pistols and ammunition dropped by a drone near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan on the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler called 'Chacha Ali'.
What weapons and explosives were recovered in the Rawla case?
Security agencies recovered 7.75 kilograms of RDX, two Zigana pistols, four magazines, 867 cartridges, batteries and remote-control devices from the drone-dropped consignment near the Khanuwali Border Outpost in Rajasthan's Rawla area on 12 October.
Who is 'Chacha Ali' and what is his alleged role?
'Chacha Ali' is a Pakistan-based handler who is suspected by investigators of directing the smuggling operation. According to preliminary investigations, he instructed Kulwant Singh to arrange the retrieval of the weapons consignment dropped by a drone from across the border.
What is the current legal status of the accused in the Rawla case?
The two men arrested first — Lakhwinder Singh Raisikh of Ferozepur district and Sukhwinder Singh Raisikh of Jalandhar district — have been sent to judicial custody after their police remand ended. Kulwant Singh alias Sukkha has been arrested in Punjab and is being questioned by intelligence agencies, with the Rajasthan ATS preparing to take him into custody.
How did authorities first detect the drone drop in Rawla?
On the night of 12 October, security agencies received intelligence that a drone had dropped three packets in a field at Chak 4 KNM, approximately one kilometre from the Khanuwali Border Outpost along the India-Pakistan border. A joint operation by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Border Security Force and other agencies led to the interception of the consignment and the arrest of the two men who had come to collect it.
