Punjab Police bust BKI arms module, seize 12 pistols and 6 grenades
Synopsis
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence unit intercepted a car near Amritsar's Bharatmala bypass and seized 12 pistols and 6 hand grenades from three BKI operatives allegedly directed by an ISI-backed foreign handler. The bust exposes an active cross-border arms pipeline targeting public order across Punjab cities — and police say the network runs deeper.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police CI Amritsar arrested three BKI operatives — Chintu , Jobanpreet Singh , and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi — on 8 July .
Recovered weapons include 12 pistols (eight .30 bore, four 9 mm), six hand grenades , and nine cartridges .
Accused were allegedly operating under a foreign-based smuggler backed by Pakistan's ISI and overseas BKI handlers.
The consignment was received from the Ajnala area and was to be delivered near the Bharatmala bypass in Amritsar.
Case registered under the Arms Act , Explosive Substances Act , and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.
Investigation ongoing to uncover the full network; further arrests are not ruled out.
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar has dismantled an illegal arms and explosives smuggling network linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), arresting three alleged operatives and recovering 12 pistols and six hand grenades on Wednesday, 8 July. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the operation, describing it as a significant strike against cross-border terror logistics in the border state.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused — Chintu, Jobanpreet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi — are all residents of Kakkar village in Amritsar. Police intercepted the trio at a checkpoint after receiving credible intelligence that they were transporting a fresh consignment of arms and ammunition received from the Ajnala area.
The vehicle allegedly used to ferry the weapons — a car in which all three were travelling — has been impounded by police.
What Was Recovered
The recovered cache includes eight .30 bore pistols and four 9 mm pistols, totalling 12 sophisticated firearms, along with six hand grenades and nine cartridges. The weapons were seized during a search of the intercepted vehicle near the underpass on the Bharatmala bypass highway in Amritsar, where the accused were allegedly headed to hand over the consignment to associates.
ISI and Foreign BKI Links, According to Police
Preliminary investigation, according to DGP Yadav, has revealed that the three accused were operating on the directions of a foreign-based smuggler allegedly backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and overseas BKI operatives. The accused were reportedly planning to use the weapons to disturb public order across multiple cities in Punjab, a state that shares a sensitive border with Pakistan.
Notably, this bust comes amid a sustained push by Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence wing to neutralise ISI-backed smuggling networks that have sought to exploit the state's proximity to the international border. Investigators are now working to establish the full chain of handlers and recipients.
Legal Action and Next Steps
A case has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar under Section 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). DGP Yadav said the investigation is being pursued from multiple angles to map the broader network and identify other operatives still at large.
The case is expected to deepen as police trace the supply chain back to the foreign handlers, with further arrests not ruled out.
Point of View
And this seizure fits that template precisely. What the investigation must now answer is how the Ajnala consignment crossed the border: through a physical route, a drone drop, or a combination. The weapons profile — grenades alongside multiple pistol calibres — suggests a module designed for both targeted violence and crowd-disruption, which raises the threat level beyond ordinary organised crime. The real accountability test is whether the foreign handler chain, which police have acknowledged, will be formally presented before a court with evidence, or remain an investigation talking point.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three BKI operatives arrested by Punjab Police in Amritsar?
The three arrested individuals are Chintu , Jobanpreet Singh , and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi , all residents of Kakkar village in Amritsar. They were intercepted on 8 July while allegedly transporting a consignment of arms and explosives in a car near the Bharatmala bypass highway.
What weapons were recovered in the Punjab arms bust?
Police recovered 12 pistols — comprising eight .30 bore and four 9 mm — along with six hand grenades and nine cartridges. The vehicle used to transport the weapons was also impounded.
What is the BKI and its alleged link to Pakistan's ISI?
The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) is a designated terrorist organisation with foreign-based operatives. According to police, the arrested accused were directed by a foreign-based smuggler allegedly backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) , pointing to a cross-border terror financing and logistics network.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act , Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act , and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar.
What were the accused allegedly planning to do with the weapons?
According to DGP Gaurav Yadav , the accused were allegedly planning to carry out activities intended to disturb public peace across various cities in Punjab. The weapons were reportedly to be handed over to associates near the Bharatmala bypass underpass in Amritsar.
