The Punjab Police on Friday stated it has seized 48 foreign-made pistols and arrested an arms smuggler with alleged hyperlinks with Pakistan-based terror outfits and pro-Khalistan components primarily based within the US, UK and Canada.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta stated that the arrested accused was appearing on the directions of a US-based handler.
He stated the weapons had been meant to hold out terrorist actions in several elements of the nation. The DGP stated Jagjit Singh alias Jaggu (25), a resident of Purian Kalan in Batala, was arrested by a crew of Punjab Internal Security Wing, SSOC Amritsar from close to Kathunangal village in Amritsar on Thursday night time.
“In an intelligence-led operation, the SSOC intercepted an I-20 car bearing registration number PB-06-AN-7016 at a specially placed police checkpost on the Amritsar-Batala road,” he stated.
The DGP stated that the crew recovered two luggage from the automotive which contained 48 pistols, magazines and ammunition of assorted international made and bores. “The cache contained 19 pistols (9 mm, Zigana-Made in Turkey), 37 magazines and 45 rounds; nine pistols of .30 bore (Made in China) and 22 magazines; .30 bore (Star Mark) 19 pistol, 38 magazines and 148 rounds; and 1 pistol of 9mm (Beretta-Italian) and 2 magazines,” he stated.
Giving particulars of the arms smuggling nexus, the DGP stated that preliminary investigation has revealed that Jagjit Singh was directed by a former gangster-criminal Darmanjit Singh alias Darman Kahlon to gather the consignment of this weapon. “Jagjit Singh is currently in touch with Darman based in USA. During his stay in Dubai from 2017 to December 2020, Jagjit kept in touch with Darman Kahlon, who inspired him to work for him,” stated Gupta.
The DGP stated Darmanjit Singh, the alleged mastermind of this smuggling racket, had tasked Jagjit Singh to gather and conceal the consignment of weapons and await additional directions for supply of pistols.
He stated that open ended warrants of fugitive legal Darmanjot Singh have been obtained in Punjab.
“Darmanjot Singh, originally a resident of Talwandi Khumman village of Thana Kathunangal, Amritsar, was involved in various criminal activities in Punjab before fleeing to the US in 2017 to evade arrest,” Gupta stated.
“He helped the infamous gangster Harvinder Singh alias Mannu escape from police custody in 2017. Along with his accomplices, he attacked the police escort party and managed to escape Harvinder Singh alias Mannu.”
The DGP stated, “An FIR was registered at Police Station, Civil Lines Batala on June 12, 2017 and in 2017 a courtroom in Batala declared Darman (Darmanjot Singh) as a fugitive offender (PO) in January, 2020. “
Gupta stated that in 2020, throughout his keep within the US, Darmanjot Singh funded a legal group with an quantity of Rs 2 lakh in Punjab to buy unlawful weapons to hold out anti-India actions.
“Ten members of his criminal group were arrested by SSOC Amritsar and seven pistols of 32 bore were recovered from their possession. An FIR was registered in this matter by the police station, SSOC Amritsar on November 11, 2020,” he stated.
Gupta stated an FIR was registered on the police station, State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, on Thursday night time underneath the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and related provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act. with the case.
Gupta stated that Punjab Police, which has constantly launched a marketing campaign towards the nefarious designs of Pakistan sponsored terrorist components who’re making an attempt to destabilize peace, communal concord and the state, has busted 44 terror modules within the final 4 years. .
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
