Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 7: In a major breakthrough against an alleged ISI-backed international arms smuggling and terror network, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested two more key operatives, taking the total number of accused in the case to 12.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Imran (37) and Mohammad Kamran (27). They were detained at IGI Airport on April 2 based on a lookout circular and were formally arrested after sustained interrogation. Police said both were closely associated with absconding mastermind Shahbaz Ansari and had been working for the network for nearly a year.
According to investigators, the duo played a crucial role in handling logistics, including receiving arms consignments routed through Nepal, transporting them to India, reassembling dismantled weapons, and supplying them across the network. Their operations were aimed at facilitating terror activities and creating unrest.
The probe has exposed a sophisticated international smuggling route. Weapons were allegedly sourced from Pakistan, routed via Thailand, and sent to Nepal to conceal any direct link to India. From there, the consignments were dismantled and smuggled into India through illegal channels before being reassembled and stored at secret locations.
Police also uncovered specially designed hidden cavities in vehicles used for transporting the weapons. These compartments were reportedly so expertly built that they were nearly impossible to detect during routine checks. Similar modifications were found in a seized Maruti Swift linked to the operation.
Based on inputs from the accused, officials recovered a .30 bore Chinese pistol, a .32 bore revolver, and 11 cartridges. Earlier seizures in the case include 23 sophisticated foreign-made weapons, 211 cartridges, and a sub-machine gun. Given the gravity of the case, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been invoked against all the accused.
Investigators have also pointed to a direct link with Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Officials said absconding kingpin Shahbaz Ansari was in contact with handlers based in Pakistan and Nepal, who directed him to funnel foreign-made weapons into India through his network.
Police suspect Ansari is currently hiding in Bangladesh. Interrogation of the 10 accused arrested earlier revealed that a major consignment seized on March 25—including weapons manufactured in Brazil, Germany, and Turkey—was allegedly sent by Ansari from Bangladesh.
A resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, Ansari is considered one of the country’s most wanted arms traffickers. He is also accused of supplying weapons used in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and had earlier been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the case. Officials said he later absconded after obtaining bail on medical grounds related to his wife’s illness.
Security agencies suspect the seized weapons were intended for a major terror strike, with religious gatherings, festivals, and crowded public places likely targets. Officials believe the timely crackdown may have averted a large-scale attack that could have resulted in heavy casualties and communal tension.
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has intensified efforts to track down Ansari, with officials indicating that more crucial revelations about the cross-border network are expected in the coming days.