Seven held with grenade, 3.4-kg heroin, arms in Amritsar

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Three juveniles among those arrested in two operations; police suspect links with foreign-based smugglers

Chandigarh: The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested seven persons, including three juveniles, in two operations and seized a hand grenade, two .30-bore pistols, 29 live cartridges and 3.4 kg of heroin, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.

The arrests were made on October 19 and 20 in connection with an alleged network involved in drug trafficking, illegal arms supply and explosives smuggling.

In the first operation, the police arrested Ajay, 28, a resident of Mudh Khokhar, and Robin Masih, alias Noni, 22, from Sultanwind. The second operation led to the arrest of Gurlal Singh, 20, and Rashpal Singh, 18, both residents of Lopoke, along with three 17-year-old juveniles. An unregistered Hero Splendor motorcycle was also impounded.

Yadav said preliminary investigations indicated that the accused were allegedly in contact with smugglers based abroad and supplying illegal weapons to criminal elements. Further investigation is underway to identify the wider network and establish its forward and backward linkages.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IG), Border Range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the first operation followed information that Ajay was allegedly receiving heroin consignments dropped by drones and illegal firearms from across the border for onward supply at the behest of foreign-based gangsters.

Acting on the information, the Amritsar Rural Police, in coordination with a Central agency, set up a checkpoint at Manawala and intercepted Ajay and Robin Masih while they were travelling on a Splendor motorcycle. A search of a bag carried by Ajay, who was riding pillion, led to the recovery of around 3.4 kg of heroin, one .30-bore pistol and 19 live cartridges, Bhullar added.

In the second operation, a joint team of the CIA and the Lopoke Station House Officer received specific information during patrol duty on Dussehra that a cross-border smuggler was allegedly using local youths to transport weapons and explosives. The team intercepted the group during checking and recovered a live hand grenade, one .30-bore pistol and 10 live cartridges, the IG said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural, Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal said Ajay was a drug addict and a habitual offender facing at least five cases, including four under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and one under the Arms Act.

Two cases have been registered in connection with the recoveries. The Chatiwind police station registered FIR No. 204 on October 19 under Sections 21 and 25 of the NDPS Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act. The Lopoke police station registered FIR No. 334 on October 20 under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.

Further investigation is underway.