Chandigarh/Amritsar, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted three separate drug trafficking and illegal arms smuggling networks, arresting eight individuals and recovering 11 pistols and 2.293 kg of heroin, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Friday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Karandeep Singh alias Babbu (24), a resident of Bhalla Colony in Amritsar; Karan Singh alias Vansh (19) and Karandeep Singh alias Karan (20), both residents of village Naushehra Dhalla in Tarn Taran; Angraj Singh alias Shanki (28) and Rahul alias Shaani (30), both residents of village Ghanupur Kale in Amritsar; Manpreet Singh alias Karan (22), a resident of village Attari in Amritsar; Kapil alias Papal (31), a resident of Gowal Mandi in Amritsar; and Nikhil Gill alias Saap (27), a resident of Sadar Bazar Cantt in Amritsar.
Police said Angraj Singh, Kapil alias Papal and Nikhil Gill have criminal backgrounds, with cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act.
The recovered weapons include three 9mm Glock pistols, two .30-bore Star pistols, one .30-bore Beretta pistol, one .30-bore PX-5 pistol, three other .30-bore pistols and one country-made .32-bore pistol. Four live cartridges were also recovered.
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 individuals involved in the network, he said.
Sharing details of the first operation, Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) Harmanbir Singh Gill said police teams, acting on specific information, arrested Karandeep Singh alias Babbu within the jurisdiction of Police Station Chheharta and recovered two pistols from his possession.
In the second operation, acting on reliable inputs, police teams 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 from them, Gill said.
In a separate operation, police teams pursuing another lead arrested Karandeep Singh alias Karan within the jurisdiction of Police Station Chheharta. Two pistols and 2.293 kg of heroin were recovered from his possession, the CP said, adding that further investigation was underway.
Three separate cases have been registered in connection with the recoveries. These include FIR No. 251 dated October 17, 2026, under Section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Chheharta; FIR No. 155 dated October 24, 2026, under Sections 25(6), 25(7) and 25(8) of the Arms Act at Police Station A-Division; and FIR No. 268 dated October 28, 2026, under Sections 25(6), 25(7) and 25(8) of the Arms Act and Section 21-C of the NDPS Act at Police Station Chheharta.
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