Chandigarh: Punjab Police on Thursday claimed to have dismantled a cross-border arms smuggling network near the Indo-Pak border in Fazilka, arresting two weapon suppliers and recovering 27 sophisticated .30 bore pistols along with 470 live cartridges. The accused have been identified as Mangal Singh and Gurmeet Singh, both residents of Fazilka district.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapons were sourced from Pakistan through a foreign-based entity and were intended for criminal gangs operating in the state.

The arrested individuals were reportedly attempting to deliver the firearms to ground operatives under instructions from their foreign handlers, officials said.

Acting on credible intelligence, police teams launched a covert operation near village Muhar Jamsher, close to the international fencing, and apprehended the suspects with the large cache of illegal arms.

In a separate development in Amritsar, police arrested a key figure among six arms smugglers, recovering six firearms and Rs 5.75 lakh in hawala money. The accused in this case have been identified as Pargat Singh (Tarn Taran), Ajaybir Singh (Amritsar), Karanbir Singh, Shri Ram, Mehakpreet Singh (all Amritsar), and Dinesh Kumar (Jalandhar). Recovered weapons included a 9mm Glock, three .30 bore PX5 pistols, one .32 bore, and one .30 bore pistol.

The syndicate was reportedly operated by Mehakpreet Singh, while Dinesh Kumar was arrested along with the hawala money, authorities added.