In a significant operation along Punjab’s border region, the Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered a large cache of weapons, ammunition and tactical equipment in Amritsar district, while detaining an Indian national believed to be linked to the consignment.
Officials said the recovery was made during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the BSF’s 117 Battalion in the Ajnala sector. Acting on specific inputs, security personnel searched Harar Khurd village in Amritsar Rural and took a suspect into custody. Information gathered during the operation subsequently led to the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
According to security officials, the recovered material includes one AK-47 assault rifle, 25 pistols, 47 pistol magazines, a bulletproof jacket and 368 rounds of ammunition. Investigators are examining the source of the weapons and whether the consignment was intended for organised crime groups, cross-border smuggling networks or terror-linked operatives.
The detained individual is currently being questioned by security agencies. Officials said efforts are underway to identify others connected to the network and establish how the weapons entered the region.
The latest recovery comes amid an aggressive crackdown by Punjab Police and central security agencies on illegal arms trafficking, narco-terror networks and cross-border smuggling operations in the state. Border districts, particularly Amritsar, have witnessed a series of major recoveries during the first half of 2026.
On January 29, Amritsar Rural Police, with assistance from a Village Defence Committee, uncovered an alleged narco-terror module near Othian village. The operation resulted in the seizure of a pistol, 46 live cartridges, four hand grenades and nearly 43 kg of heroin, while two suspects were arrested. Investigators had indicated that the weapons were suspected to have been delivered through drones operating from across the border.
Another breakthrough was reported on March 14 when police dismantled an alleged ISI-backed module in the Gharinda area. Authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle along with magazines and ammunition, besides three Austrian-made Glock pistols. Two accused were arrested in connection with the case.
Subsequent operations continued in the following months. On April 16, Counter Intelligence units and the State Special Operations Cell reportedly busted another suspected terror-linked network and seized two foreign-made pistols along with four hand grenades. Investigators also explored possible links between the module and a grenade attack case under investigation.
In May, Amritsar Police claimed to have exposed an arms supply network allegedly associated with a recently released criminal. Six pistols and several rounds of ammunition were recovered during the operation. Later in the month, five alleged arms smugglers were arrested in a separate case involving illegal weapon trafficking.
In separate operations conducted on June 17 and 18, police arrested several suspects and recovered more than 20 sophisticated pistols, including foreign-manufactured weapons and firearms believed to have originated from Pakistan-based channels.
Official figures indicate that security agencies operating in the Amritsar region have seized more than 35 pistols of various makes, including Glock, Star Mark, Zigana and Pakistan-manufactured weapons, one AK-47 rifle, at least eight hand grenades and more than 110 rounds of ammunition in different operations carried out between January and June this year.
Officials said the recurring recovery of weapons highlights the continuing challenge posed by cross-border smuggling networks. While anti-drone systems deployed along the international border have helped intercept several attempts, agencies have observed the increasing use of GPS-enabled methods for the movement of weapons and narcotics.
DIG Border Range Harmanbir Singh Gill said security agencies are continuously upgrading surveillance and response mechanisms in line with directions issued by the Punjab government. He noted that the Punjab Police and the BSF are working in close coordination to counter emerging threats and strengthen border security.
Authorities said the investigation into the latest seizure remains ongoing. Further arrests and recoveries are expected as agencies work to trace the entire network behind the arms consignment and prevent threats to public safety and law and order in the state.