CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 15: In an intelligence-led operation, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar has busted an inter-state illegal gunrunning module. USA-based handlers backed it. They arrested its two members. Also, they recovered 10 pistols from their possession. These were .32 bore country-made pistols. They also seized 20 magazines and ammunition, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

Preliminary investigations revealed critical details.

          Those arrested include Satnam Singh alias Prince, who is a resident of Buttar Kalan of Batala. Manjit Singh is also among those arrested, and he resides in Bhagi Nangal in Batala.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed critical details. Primarily, the accused, Satnam alias Prince, was in touch with his USA-based handler. Sunny Masih alias Gulli, a handler, is wanted for smuggling heroin. For his convenience, accused Satnam involved his relative Manjit in drug peddling and the transportation of illegal weapons, he said.

USA : Accused persons were obtaining illegal weapons

          He said that investigations have shown the accused persons were obtaining illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. They did this under the directions of their USA-based handler. The intention was to supply these weapons to Punjab-based gangsters.

          The DGP said that further investigations are ongoing. These investigations aim to establish backward and forward linkages. The goal is to unearth the entire network of this module.

          Sharing more details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that SSOC Amritsar has received secret information. Sunny Masih alias Gulli is a native of Dhianpur in Gurdaspur. currently resides in the USA. He is running an inter-state weapons smuggling module in the state. He is doing this with the help of his associates. In pursuit of the input, the teams of SSOC Amritsar launched an intel-based operation. They arrested two members of this module after recovering a weapon consignment from their possession, he said.

          He said that during questioning, arrested accused Satnam revealed that Sunny Masih used to pay him courier charges per delivery. Accused also revealed that around one month ago, he smuggled four weapons from MP to Punjab. For this, he was paid Rs 10,000. For the current delivery, Sunny had promised him Rs 20,000.

          The AIG said that accused Satnam Singh has a criminal history. He faces at least three cases registered against him under the NDPS Act. He was released on bail on July 30, 2024.

        In this regard, the police registered a case under FIR No. 70 dated 15.12.2024.It is under sections 25, 25 (6), and 25 (7) of the Arms Act. Also, it falls under sections 111 and 61 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This registration occurred at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.