Interstate arms smuggling module busted, 6 arrested

Acting on a tip-off, the CIA staff of Amritsar police have arrested six persons and confiscated five illegal and country-made pistols from their possession. They were allegedly part of organised interstate racket involved in the smuggling of arms and supply to criminal elements.

Those arrested were identified as Balram Sharma (35), a resident of Anand Nagar, Batala Road, Mansu Gill, alias Himanshu, alias Manas (19), of Majitha Road, Rajbir Singh (30) of Silver Estate, Balnaz Singh (24) of Mata Ganga Ji Nagar, Gursewak Singh (24) of Bagichi Bhagtanwala and Kahna Mehta (20) of Ganda Wala bazaar near Majith Mandi here.

Police Commissioner Gupreet Singh Bhullar said they were arrested by the police during a week-long operation. The police confiscated three .32 bore pistols, a .12 bore pistol and an air gun from their possession.

“Balram Sharma and his associates used to source the illegal arms from other states, including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and then supply to various criminal elements who were involved in firing incidents and also extort money,” said Bhullar, while adding that a case under the Arms Act has been registered against them at the Sadar police station here.

Balram had three criminal cases, including murder bid and under the Arms Act, registered at Amritsar and Kapurthala. The Police Commissioner said further investigation was in progress to uncover backward and forward links in this network, besides tracing the origins of these illegal arms and identifying their recipients. More arrests and recoveries are likely to be made during further probe, he added.