Amritsar Police arrest eight with 11 pistols, 2.29 kg heroin

The Amritsar Commissionerate Police have arrested eight people in three separate operations and recovered 11 pistols, four live cartridges and 2.293 kg of heroin, busting three alleged drug trafficking and illegal arms supply networks, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Friday.

The arrested accused have been identified as Karandeep Singh alias Babbu (24), a resident of Bhalla Colony, Amritsar, Karan Singh alias Vansh (19) and Karandeep Singh alias Karan (20), both residents of Naushehra Dhalla village in Tarn Taran, Angraj Singh alias Shanki (28) and Rahul alias Shaani (30), both residents of Ghanupur Kale village in Amritsar; Manpreet Singh alias Karan (22) of Attari village, Amritsar; Kapil alias Papal (31) of Gowal Mandi, Amritsar; and Nikhil Gill alias Saap (27) of Sadar Bazar Cantt, Amritsar.

The police said Angraj Singh, Kapil and Nikhil Gill have criminal backgrounds, with cases registered against them under the NDPS Act and Arms Act. The recovered weapons include three 9mm Glock pistols, two .30 bore Star pistols, one .30 bore Beretta, one .30 bore PX-5, three other .30 bore pistols and one country-made .32 bore pistol. Four live cartridges were also seized.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations had revealed that the accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers who facilitated the supply of illegal weapons for further distribution among criminal elements. Further investigation is underway to establish backward and forward linkages and identify other people involved in the networks.

Sharing details of the operations, Amritsar Commissioner of Police Harmanbir Singh Gill said the police arrested Karandeep Singh alias Babbu from the jurisdiction of the Chheharta police station following specific information and recovered two pistols from him.

In the second operation, the police arrested six accused — Karan Singh alias Vansh, Angraj Singh alias Shanki, Manpreet Singh alias Karan, Rahul alias Shaani, Kapil alias Papal and Nikhil Gill alias Saap — and recovered seven pistols, Gill said.

In a separate operation based on another lead, the police arrested Karandeep Singh alias Karan from the jurisdiction of the Chheharta police station and recovered two pistols and 2.293 kg of heroin from his possession, he added.

Three separate FIRs have been registered in connection with the recoveries. FIR No. 251, dated October 17, 2026, was registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act at the Chheharta police station.

FIR No. 155, dated October 24, 2026, was registered under Sections 25(6), 25(7) and 25(8) of the Arms Act at the A-Division police station.

FIR No. 268, dated October 28, 2026, was registered under Sections 25(6), 25(7) and 25(8) of the Arms Act and Section 21-C of the NDPS Act at the Chheharta police station.