Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Tarn Taran Police in joint operation with Central Agencies busted a Pak-backed Arms Smuggling Module with the arrest of two operatives from the area of Sheron in Tarn Taran, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.
“The operation leads to the recovery of four sophisticated Glock-19 pistols, including one pistol with ‘MADE FOR NATO ARMY’ imprinted on it, along with four magazines and seven live cartridges and Rs 4.8 lakhs hawala money,” he said, while adding that the Police teams have also impounded the Maruti Swift car, in which accused persons were travelling.
Those arrested have been identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Chappa Ram Singh in Jandiala Guru and Lovepreet Singh of Basarke in Khalra. Both the arrested accused have criminal history with cases pertaining to NDPS act registered against them.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that arrested accused Harpreet Singh has direct links with the Pakistan-based smuggler, who used to influx drugs and weapon consignments from across the border using drones. Further investigations are on-going to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he added.
Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Gaurav Toora, while addressing a press conference, said that the police party was carrying out checking of suspected vehicles near Sheron in Taran Taran, when a car Maruti Suzuki Swift being driven rashly was signalled to stop using torch light and the occupants, tried to flee and consequently rammed into the barricades at the naka.
The two persons sitting in the car were rounded up and weapons and hawala money was recovered during their search, he added.He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that accused Harpreet Happy had developed some contacts while he was lodged in Faridkot Jail, who got him in touch with Pak-based drug smuggler.
Probe has also revealed that accused Harpreet Happy had delivered multiple weapon consignments to criminal elements, said the SSP, while adding that further investigations are on and more arrests are expected in this case.A case FIR no. 114 dated 29.08.2024 has been registered under section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sections 25(6) and 25(7) of the Arms Act and section 27A of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sarhali in Tarn Taran.