Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence Ferozepur has busted a cross-border smuggling network with the arrest of smuggler-cum-gangster identified as Hardeep Singh alias Deepa of village Ghall Khurd in Ferozepur, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
The Police team has also recovered three sophisticated weapon arsenal— one 9MM Glock pistol, one .30 MM Beretta pistol and one Pump action gun— along with three magazines and 141 assorted cartridges, and 45 grams heroin from his possession, besides, impounding his Maruti Swift car, in which he was travelling. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that these weapons were sourced from Pakistan through unidentified foreign-based entity, intended for use in terror and criminal activities in the state.
He said that the arrested accused was to supply these recovered weapons to ground operatives of terror and criminal groups. The identity and role of the foreign entity, along with its broader network, are under comprehensive investigation, he added. The DGP said that further investigation is underway to unravel the entire network.
Efforts are on to identify other members involved in this module and track the origins of the smuggled weapons, he added. Sharing more details, AIG CI Ferozepur Lakhbir Singh said that police teams had received a reliable intel-input about involvement of accused Hardeep Deepa in weapon and drug smuggling operations and the input also revealed that the latter has recently retrieved a weapon consignment to further supply it to the criminal elements.
Acting swiftly, police teams laid a Naka near Punj Garain Morh in Kotkapura and signalled driver of the suspected Swift car to stop, he said, while adding that instead of stopping the car, the accused escaped from the spot leading to a hot chase. He said that police teams have successfully apprehended the accused in the area of village Punj Garain, when his vehicle turned turtle after he abruptly take a turn towards a small road.
The AIG said that the arrested individual has a criminal history with four cases registered against him in Moga, Ferozepur, and Fazilka under the Arms Act, attempt to murder, and other serious offences. The accused was released on bail in April 2024 and after coming out of the jail, he resumed his criminal activities, he added.
In this regard FIR no. 05 dated 01-03-2025 has been registered under sections 21 and 25 of the NDPS Act and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Fazilka.