PUNJAB POLICE SEIZE HUGE CACHE OF FOREIGN-MADE PISTOLS, ARREST 1 ALLEGED MILITANT & WEAPONS SMUGGLER

PUNJAB POLICE SEIZE HUGE CACHE OF FOREIGN-MADE PISTOLS, ARREST 1 ALLEGED MILITANT & WEAPONS SMUGGLER

OPEN-ENDED WARRANTS OBTAINED FOR ACCUSED’S USA-BASED HANDLER, FURTHER PROBE ON TO UNRAVEL INTERNATIONAL NEXUS

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Chandigarh, June 11
Punjab Police seized a huge cache of foreign-made Pistols, and arrested a weapons smuggler allegedly linked with Pakistan-based terrorist outfits and anti-India pro-Khalistani elements based in USA, Canada and UK, and operating on the directions of a USA-based handler.

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The weapons were meant for carrying out terrorist activities in various parts of India, DGP Dinkar Gupta disclosed on Friday, giving details of the seizure.

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Jagjit Singh @ Jaggu (25 years) r/o Purian Kalan PS Sadar Batala, Police District Batala, was arrested from near Kathunangal, Amritsar on Thursday night by a team of Punjab Internal Security Wing, SSOC Amritsar, Gupta said. In an intelligence led operation, SSOC Amritsar intercepted an I-20 car bearing registration no.PB-06-AN-7016 at a specially laid police naka on Amritsar-Batala road, Kathunangal village.

The team recovered from the car two nylon bags containing 48 foreign made Pistols of different foreign makes and bores, along with magazines and ammunition. The cache included 19 Pistols 9 mm (Zigana-Made in Turkey), 37 Magazines and 45 rounds; 9 Pistols of .30 bore (Made in China) and 22 Magazines; 19 Pistols of .30 bore (Star mark), 38 Magazines and 148 rounds; and
1 Pistol of 9mm (Baretta-Italian) and 2 Magazines.

Giving details of the weapons smuggling nexus, the DGP said preliminary investigations had revealed that Jagjit had been directed Darmanjit Singh @ Darman Kahlon, a former gangster criminal, to collect this weapon consignment. Jagjit Singh has been in touch with Darman, at present based in USA. During his stay in Dubai from 2017 to December 2020, Jagjit had remained in touch with Darman Kahlon who motivated him to work for him.

The mastermind of this smuggling racket, Darman had reportedly tasked Jagjit to collect and conceal the weapon consignment and wait for further instructions for the delivery of the pistols, said the DGP, adding that open-ended warrants of Darmanjot Singh @ Darman Kahlon , a Proclaimed Offender in Punjab, have been obtained.

Darmanjot Singh @ Darman Kahlon, who originally belonged to village Talwandi Khumman, PS Kathunanagal, Amritsar, was involved in various criminal activities in Punjab before his escape to USA in 2017 to evade arrest. He facilitated the escape of notorious gangster Harwinder Singh @ Mannu from police custody in 2017. Along with his associates, he mounted an attack on the police escort party and managed to get Harwinder Singh @ Mannu to flee. An FIR was registered on 12.06.2017 in PS Civil Lines Batala and Darman was declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) in January, 2020 by the court of JMIC Batala in 2017.

In 2020, during his stay in America, Darmanjot Singh funded a criminal group with an amount of Rs. 2 Lakh in Punjab to purchase illegal weapons for carrying out anti-India activities. Ten members of his criminal group were arrested by SSOC Amritsar and 07 Pistols 32 bore were recovered from their possession. An FIR dated 10.11.2020 was registered in this case by PS SSOC Amritsar.

The DGP said an FIR dated 10.5.2021 u/s 13, 17, 18, 18-B, 20 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 120, 120-B IPC and 25 Arms Act, PS SSOC, Amritsar has been registered with regard to last night’s seizure. Further investigation is on to unearth the whole nexus, he said.

The Punjab Police, which has launched a relentless drive against the nefarious designs of Pak sponsored terrorist elements who are trying to disturb the peace, communal harmony and destabilize the State, has busted 44 terror modules over the last 4 years. Besides, 283 terrorists/criminals have been arrested, and 21 Rifles, 163 Revolvers/Pistols, 38 hand grenades, 10 drones, 5 Satellite phone, 2 Walkie-Talkie sets and RDX have been seized in this period.