Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Sep 12: In a major breakthrough against cross-border arms smuggling, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have successfully carried out two intelligence-driven joint operations in the Fazilka sector, resulting in the seizure of 43 pistols, nearly 2,400 rounds of ammunition, and the arrest of four smugglers.
The most recent operation took place in Theh Kalandar village, where BSF's intelligence wing, in coordination with the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Fazilka, acted swiftly on a tip-off. The operation led to the recovery of 16 pistols, 38 magazines, 1,847 rounds, and a motorcycle, along with the arrest of two smugglers. The BSF described the bust as a significant blow to a larger Pakistan-backed narco-terror plot aimed at destabilizing the region.
Earlier, in the same Fazilka sector near Mahar Khiwa Mansa village, another joint BSF-Punjab Police ambush resulted in the capture of one smuggler in the early hours of the day. After hours of surveillance, the team intercepted the suspect carrying a large sack containing 27 pistols, 54 magazines, and 470 rounds. The subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of his associate from a nearby village.
The four arrested individuals hail from Teja Rohella and Mahar Jamsher villages, and initial investigations suggest they were acting on directions from foreign-based handlers. According to Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav, the weapons were smuggled into India from Pakistan and were intended to be delivered to criminal gangs operating within the state.
“These operations have not only prevented a massive arms inflow but have also dealt a severe blow to a transnational arms supply chain aimed at arming gangsters and fueling violence in Punjab,” Yadav said.
Officials believe the crackdown has dismantled a key logistics link in the cross-border arms trade and underscored the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence and swift ground action. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as authorities dig deeper into the network.