Asr police bust cross-border arms, narcotics network; 5 held

Amritsar: The Amritsar police here claim to have dismantled a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling network with links to Pakistan. This was achieved with the arrest of its five operatives, including one juvenile, and recovery of 12 sophisticated .30 bore pistols and 1.5 kg of heroin from their possession, informed police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar here on Thursday.He said those arrested had been identified as Joban Singh, Karandeep Singh alias Pandit and Ajaypal Singh, all residents of Mari Megha village in Tarn Taran; Jashanpreet Singh of Rania village in Amritsar, and a 16-year-old juvenile.The preliminary investigation revealed that Joban Singh and Jashanpreet Singh were in direct touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and communicated with them via social media to receive and deliver arms and narcotics consignments. The pushed-in weapon consignments were meant to fuel inter-gang rivalries in Punjab, he added.Bhullar stated that during a naka at Gate Hakima area, police teams had arrested suspects Joban Singh, Karandeep Singh alias Pandit, and Ajaypal Singh, recovering five .30 bore pistols from their possession. All three arrested accused belong to the same village, which is located close to the International Border. He added that Pakistan-based smugglers were using drones to drop the arms and narcotics consignments.On sustained interrogation of Joban Singh, he revealed details about a concealed 1.5 kg heroin consignment, which was recovered from the location pinpointed by him, he added.A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act and sections 21-C and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at police station Gate Hakima.