DW BUREAU / CHANDIGARH

Punjab Police on Monday claimed to have busted a narcotics and illegal arms module with the arrest of four people with almost 10 kg of heroin and arms and ammunition in Hoshiarpur.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were acting as local handlers of foreign-based gangsters involved in drug trafficking and supply of illegal weapons, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.

"In a major breakthrough, District Hoshiarpur Police busts an inter-state/foreign-linked narcotics and illegal arms module, apprehends four accused, and recovers 9.925 kg heroin, 2 foreign-made pistols, 8 magazines, and 40 live cartridges," he said.

He said those arrested have been identified as Manjinder Singh alias Sonu, a resident of Pathralian village in Hoshiarpur; Shivam Bhandari, a resident of Dhina in Jalandhar; Sahil Masih alias Monu of Pakhoke Tahli village in Gurdaspur; and Ramel Roger of Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur.

According to preliminary investigations, the arrested accused were in direct contact with foreign-based gangsters and were acting as their local handlers, facilitating drug trafficking and the supply of illegal weapons in the region, he said.

Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to dismantle the entire network. Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Hoshiarpur, Sandeep Kumar Malik, said that following a reliable input, police teams set up a special checkpoint in the Garhshankar jurisdiction.

During the operation, a car was intercepted, leading to the apprehension of the four accused and the subsequent recovery of the heroin and the consignment of weapons, he said.

Malik said Sahil Masih is a habitual offender. He was involved in firing at a police team in Batala district.

An FIR has been registered at the Garhshankar police station in Hoshiarpur. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days as the investigation progresses, the SSP said.

(editor@dailyworld.in)