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Punjab man arrested for ‘promoting gun culture’ after he uploads photo on Facebook; ‘it was a toy,’ says wife

The Moga police said they took the action on the basis of information received, and a verification is underway to ascertain whether Pritpal Singh owned the gun seen in the photograph

2 min readAmritsarUpdated: Dec 24, 2025 02:18 PM IST

A case has been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under the Arms Act. (file)

The Punjab Police arrested a resident of Moga district Tuesday evening for allegedly promoting gun culture on the basis of a photo he uploaded on Facebook.

The accused has been identified as Pritpal Singh, 40, a welder who hails from Chuhar Chack village. His family has, however, claimed that the gun seen in the picture is a toy and that he does not own it.

Mohkam Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Ajitwal police station, who is the investigating officer in the case, said they took the action on the basis of information received, and a process is underway to verify whether Pritpal owns the gun.

“A case has been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under the Arms Act. We will produce the accused in court and investigate the claims,” the ASI said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pritpal’s wife Kirandeep Kaur said he builds iron sheds for a living. They have two children who study at a government-run school.

“The photo described by the police as promoting gun culture was actually taken during his visit to Sri Anandpur Sahib around two years ago. He saw a toy gun in a stall, picked it up, got a picture clicked with it, and then put it back. He did not buy the toy gun, as it was expensive. He does not own any kind of toy or real gun,” Kaur said.

“We are a hard-working, poor family. Right now, we are struggling to understand what has happened. He has not committed any crime. You can ask anybody in the village. He is a hard-working person who even offered free services to construct a shed at the village school,” Kaur added. cu

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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