Punjab Police busts arms smuggling module in Jalandhar, 3 held
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has dismantled an arms smuggling module, arresting three accused and seizing five .32-bore pistols, nine magazines, and 22 cartridges on 2 May 2025, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed. The breakthrough is part of Punjab's sustained crackdown on illegal weapons networks operating within the state.
The Accused and Their Backgrounds
Those taken into custody have been identified as Manjot Singh of Dhesian village, Gurdaspur; Sandeep Singh of Jagowal village, Gurdaspur; and Amandeep Singh, alias Aman, of Bhaini Paswal village, Gurdaspur. All three are residents of Gurdaspur district, pointing to a localised network with links into Jalandhar.
How the Operation Unfolded
Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur said that acting on credible intelligence, a police team first apprehended Manjot Singh near the bus stand in Jalandhar, recovering one pistol from him. His subsequent disclosure statement led investigators to his two accomplices.
Police teams moved swiftly to Bhaini Paswal village in Gurdaspur, where Sandeep Singh and Amandeep Singh were arrested. A follow-up search based on Amandeep's disclosures led to the recovery of four additional .32-bore pistols, eight magazines, and 18 cartridges concealed near Dhusi Bundh at Bhaini Paswal village.
Scope of the Smuggling Network
Preliminary investigation has established that the module was engaged in illegal arms smuggling within Punjab, according to DGP Yadav. Investigators are now working to map both backward and forward linkages — tracing the supply chain upstream and identifying end-users or distributors downstream — with the aim of fully dismantling the network.
This comes amid a broader state-level security drive, with Punjab Police conducting repeated operations against arms and drug trafficking modules. Notably, weapons of this calibre — .32-bore pistols — have featured in several previous inter-district smuggling cases in the state.
What Comes Next
Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur indicated that further arrests and additional recoveries are likely as the investigation advances. A case has been registered and the accused are in police custody pending further proceedings.