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Journalism of Courage
Despite the devastating floods, which affected the border areas of Punjab along Pakistan, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been hard at work using swimmers to push in drugs, weapons and explosive devices into India using the flooded areas.
Most of these efforts have been thwarted by the Punjab Police as well as Border Security Force (BSF) with huge seizures having been made in this period of heavy rains and flooding.
Data accessed by The Indian Express shows that as many as 59 pistols (including 9MM Glock and .30 bore star mark), seven hand grenades (four 86P, three Arges HG-84), 1960 live cartridges, 42 magazines, 32.3 kg heroin, one 2 KG IED (RDX based) and Rs 9.25 lakhs cash have been seized till September 12 through the month of August.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said that even though the recent floods caused widespread disruption across several border districts in Punjab, the Punjab Police has effectively maintained operational readiness and strategic enforcement capability, despite parallel involvement in humanitarian relief. “The force has demonstrated its operational tempo, particularly in dealing with emerging threats from organised crime, terrorism, and cross-border smuggling networks,” the DGP said.
Police officials inform that Pak ISI has been using swimmers to ferry across contraband material, including arms and ammunition, across the border in order to take advantage of the damage caused to border fencing and the Border Observation Posts (BOPs). “They also thought that since the entire administrative machinery was geared up for rescue and relief operations in border areas of Punjab and in hinterland, their would be laxity on our part and they will be able to push-in whatever they wanted,” an official involved in the ongoing operation said.
The Punjab Police and BSF established several check posts and conducted raids even as the rescue operations were taking place much to the surprise of ISI and Pakistani smugglers, said the official.
“We conducted a series of successful operations over the past month, even when the floods were at their peak, targeting criminal syndicates and terror modules. These recent achievements underscore the force’s capacity to safeguard Punjab’s internal security even under challenging circumstances,” said the DGP.
Key Operations and Recoveries:
August 25: Batala Police busted a Pakistan-ISI-backed terror module, recovering four SPL HGR-84 hand grenades (Arges HG-84) and an RDX-based IED weighing approximately 2 kg, linked to gangster-terrorist Nishan Singh alias Nishan Jodia.
August 26: Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested an individual involved in a cross-border arms smuggling racket, recovering five sophisticated 9MM Glock pistols and four magazines, with the accused coordinating with Pakistan-based smugglers Gurpreet Singh alias Ginny.
August 26: Counter Intelligence (CI) Pathankot thwarted a target killing attempt by arresting four individuals, including two juveniles, operating on instructions from foreign-based gangsters Nishan Singh, Shamsher Singh alias Shera Mann alias Honey, and Sajan Masih alias Goru.
August 31: A joint operation by CI Pathankot, CI Ludhiana, and SSOC Amritsar busted a BKI-backed terror module, recovering one Arges hand grenade, one .30 bore star mark pistol, and three live cartridges. The accused were tasked with reconnaissance of security establishments.
September 2: Sri Muktsar Sahib Police arrested two associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, recovering five illegal weapons, linked to Harjot Singh alias Neela and Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga, both with multiple FIRs across various districts and states.
September 2: SAS Nagar Police busted a terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), arresting three Jammu and Kashmir-based individuals in connection with the abduction and murder of a cab driver. One accused was wanted under UAPA and Arms Act in J&K.
September 4: Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested three individuals associated with a cross-border arms and hawala network, seizing 2.02 kg heroin, four pistols (including a Glock), and ? 3.5 lakh in hawala money. Subsequent arrests added 12 kg heroin, totaling 20.1 kg.
September 8: Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a significant heroin smuggling racket, arresting Soni Singh alias Soni and four associates, recovering 8.1 kg heroin.
September 9: Faridkot Police dismantled an international drug cartel operated by Pakistan-based smugglers, arresting two key traffickers and recovering 12.1 kg heroin.
September 11: Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested six individuals involved in a cross-border arms smuggling module, seizing six sophisticated weapons and ?5.75 lakh hawala money.
September 11: SSOC Fazilka conducted a successful operation near the Indo-Pak International Border, arresting two weapon suppliers and recovering 27 .30 bore pistols and 470 live cartridges.
September 12: Fazilka Police and BSF, in a coordinated operation, recovered 16 pistols, 38 magazines, 1487 live cartridges, and arrested two individuals.
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