The Amritsar Rural Police have intercepted a major cross-border weapons consignment smuggled from Pakistan, arresting three individuals, including a 17-year-old minor, officials said.
The seizure, which included military-grade arms, has effectively averted a suspected terror plot aimed at disrupting the upcoming Independence Day celebrations and the festive season.
Acting on specific intelligence regarding an attempt by anti-social elements to execute a major strike using cross-border weapons, a joint team led by DSP Attari Yadwinder Singh, DSP (D) Nagra, and the Gharinda SHO carried out targeted raids.
The operation initially led to the arrest of a suspect named Joban. Information gathered during his preliminary questioning subsequently enabled the police to track down and apprehend his associate, Akashveer, along with the minor.
The search of the suspects yielded a live hand grenade, an AK-47 assault rifle along with a magazine, a modified .30 bore pistol, and a semi-automatic gun.
Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kawalpreet Singh Chahal stated that the primary suspect, Akashveer, is a history-sheeter who was recently released from prison and already faces charges under the Arms Act.
Investigators found that the suspects are closely related and were lured into the cross-border smuggling ring entirely by the prospect of quick financial gains. The minor was similarly drawn into the illegal operation with monetary incentives.
“The initial probe indicates these weapons were pushed from across the border with Pakistan to orchestrate a major security incident during Independence Day or the ensuing festivals,” SSP Chahal said.
He added that the police are moving to secure extended custodial remand of the accused to trace the intended recipients of the hardware and map out the broader network operating behind the scenes.
Affirming a zero-tolerance stance against cross-border security threats, the SSP reiterated that the regional police units remain on high alert.
Security measures and operational sweeps across border patches are being intensified to preemptively neutralize any further infiltration attempts, the officer added.