Huge cache of weapons, heroin recovered near Indo-Pak border

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, October 20

The Punjab Police and the BSF have recovered a huge cache of weapons near the India-Pakistan border in the Khemkaran area of Tarn Taran district, an official said today.

In a joint operation, the Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 22 pistols (most .30 bore Star mark), 44 magazines and 100 rounds of ammunition, besides a packet of heroin (934 gram), the official said, adding that these were packed in a black kit bag concealed in a paddy field.

During the preliminary investigations and as per the modus operandi of Pakistani smugglers, this consignment was placed in Indian territory across the fence and it was supposed to be retrieved by their Indian associates.

A case under Section 511 of the IPC, Sections 21, 28 and 29 of the NDPS Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 14 of the Finance Act has been registered at an Amritsar police station. “Efforts are being made to ascertain the identity of the Pakistani handlers and their Indian links who were expected to pick the consignment,” a police official said.

This is not the first time when anti-national elements have tried to push such consignments through various channels across the border. In the past too, the Counter Intelligence wing had recovered from different accused a huge cache of illegal weapons meant to disturb the peace and harmony of the state.

On June 10 this year, a consignment of foreign-made 48 pistols was recovered from Jagjit Singh alias Jaggu of Purian Kalan (Batala).

In another operation, the Counter Intelligence wing had recovered 39 pistols from Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, which were to be supplied to anti-social elements in the state.

Drone-dropped drugs seized in Asr

• The BSF has recovered heroin weighing 1.1 kg from the India-Pakistan border in the Amritsar sector
• A BSF official said on the intervening night of October 19 and 20, troops of the 144 Battalion heard the sound of a drone entering into the Indian territory from the Pakistan side
• As the vigilant troops fired, it returned. The area was cordoned off and sister agencies were informed
• Upon intensive search, the BSF officials recovered a packet of suspected heroin from a field in the border area
  
• They said an iron ring was also attached with the packet to tie it up with the drone