Amritsar: Amritsar Police have arrested seven people in two separate operations targeting an alleged cross-border smuggling network involved in narcotics and weapons trafficking, recovering 3.5kg of heroin, a hand grenade and a .30-calibre pistol.
Police said three of the seven accused were minors. The operations were conducted under the leadership of Amritsar SSP Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal as part of efforts to crack down on drug trafficking, terrorism and gangster networks.
In the first operation, Ajay and Robin Masih were arrested on charges of transporting and storing heroin. Investigators found that the accused had allegedly brought the contraband from across the border and were keeping it in storage while awaiting further instructions.
Weapons suspected to be linked to targeted killings
In the second operation, five people were arrested and a hand grenade and a .30-calibre pistol were recovered. Police are investigating whether the weapons were intended for use in targeted killings and whether the accused were acting on instructions from handlers based across the border.
Officials said the timely operations had helped foil a potential attack plot. The investigation is continuing to establish the wider network, the source of the weapons and the alleged links between the suspects and cross-border operatives.
Inspector General of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Punjab Police was following a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and cross-border smuggling. He added that a detailed investigation would be conducted into the suspected conspiracy involving targeted killings.
