AK-47, Two Hand Grenades Recovered As Punjab Police Bust Illegal Arms Network In Amritsar

Punjab Police has dismantled an alleged illegal arms and explosives supply network in Amritsar, recovering an AK-47 rifle, two hand grenades, a magazine and live cartridges from a suspected member of the network.

Punjab Police Director General Gaurav Yadav said the recovery was made by Amritsar Rural Police during an operation targeting the illegal supply of weapons and explosives. The seizure of the assault rifle and grenades has raised concerns over the scale and reach of the network being investigated by the police.

According to preliminary findings, the accused is allegedly linked to foreign-based smugglers and was involved in procuring illegal weapons, Yadav said in a post on X. Police are now probing the accused's connections and the possible sources and intended recipients of the seized weapons.

An FIR has been registered at Gharinda police station in Amritsar under relevant provisions of the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

Investigators are also working to establish the wider network's backward and forward linkages, tracing where the weapons and explosives came from and whether they were meant to be supplied to other individuals or groups.

The recovery of an AK-47 along with hand grenades makes the case particularly significant, with police expected to examine whether the accused was part of a larger organised arms-smuggling operation operating across borders.

Further investigation is underway to identify other people allegedly involved in the network and determine the full extent of its activities.