A huge cache of foreign-made pistols was seized and a weapons smuggler allegedly linked with Pakistan-based terrorist outfits has been arrested by Punjab police on Thursday night.
The accused has been identified as Jagjit Singh, a resident of Purian Kalan of the state was arrested from near Kathunangal, Amritsar on Thursday night by a team of the Punjab Internal Security Wing.
Acting on a tip-off, SSOC Amritsar intercepted an I-20 car on Amritsar-Batala road, Kathunangal village, and arrested Singh.
The team recovered from the car two nylon bags containing 48 foreign-made pistols of different foreign makes and bores, along with magazines and ammunition.
The cache included 19 Pistols 9 mm (Zigana-Made in Turkey), 37 Magazines and 45 rounds; 9 Pistols of .30 bore (Made in China) and 22 Magazines; 19 Pistols of .30 bore (Star mark), 38 Magazines and 148 rounds; and 1 Pistol of 9mm (Baretta-Italian) and 2 Magazines.
Preliminary investigations had revealed that Jagjit had been directed Darmanjit Singh, a former gangster criminal, to collect this weapon consignment. Singh is associated with anti-India pro-Khalistani elements based in the USA, Canada, and UK, and operating on the directions of a USA-based handler.