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The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Punjab Police raids 301 locations across state, arrests 38 drug smugglers
The raids have resulted in the recovery of 620 grams of heroin and 1612 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 25,909 in 168 days, said an official release. Chandigarh: Continuing the war against drugs 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 168th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 301 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 38 drug smugglers after registration of 28 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state. Notably, CM Bhagwant Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab a drug-free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs. Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 100 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 70 gazetted officers, have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 316 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added. The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy– Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)– to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of 'De-addiction' has convinced 33 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today. Earlier on Thursday, in a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive against organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested two most-wanted operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang from Patiala-Ambala Highway near village Shambhu and recovered an Austrian-made 9mm Glock pistol along with six live cartridges from their possession. (ANI) Disclaimer: This report is auto-generated from the ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Punjab Police conducted raids at 301 locations; arrests 38 drug smugglers
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 16 (ANI): Continuing the war against drugs 'Yudh Nashian Virudh" waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 168th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 301 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 38 drug smugglers after registration of 28 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 25,909 in 168 days, said an official release. The raids have resulted in the recovery of 620 grams of heroin and 1612 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the CM Bhagwant Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab a drug-free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 100 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 70 gazetted officers, have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 316 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy– Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)– to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of 'De-addiction' has convinced 33 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today. Earlier on Thursday, in a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive against organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested two most-wanted operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang from Patiala-Ambala Highway near village Shambhu and recovered an Austrian-made 9mm Glock pistol along with six live cartridges from their possession. (ANI)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Punjab Police arrest 2 Lawrence Bishnoi gang members with extensive criminal history, over 15 cases
The Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Thursday arrested two most-wanted alleged operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang from the Patiala-Ambala Highway near Shambhu village, and recovered an Austrian-made 9 mm Glock pistol along with six live cartridges from their possession. Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, said the arrested men have been identified as Akshay Delu and Ankit Bishnoi alias Kakkar, residents of the Khairpur village in Fazilka's Abohar. The arrested men were operating on the instructions of their foreign-based handlers, identified as Anmol Bishnoi and Arzoo Bishnoi. 'Preliminary investigation reveals that they fled to Nepal after committing the murder & returned on directions of foreign-based handlers to commit a sensational crime in Punjab. Both the accused have extensive criminal history and over 15 heinous crime cases registered against them in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan & Gujarat, including under various criminal Acts,' Yadav said in a post on X. He added they were also wanted in the murder of a man, Bharat Ratan alias Vicky, which took place in Fazilka on May 2. Sharing operational details, Promod Ban, Additional Director General of Police (AGTF), said they received a tip-off that the two men were trying to enter Punjab. 'Acting swiftly on the intelligence, special teams were formed, who tracked down the accused persons on the Ambala-Patiala Highway and apprehended them near Village Shambu in an early morning operation,' Ban said, adding that a sophisticated weapon was recovered from their possession. Gurmeet Chauhan, DIG (AGTF), said after executing the criminal task given by their handlers, the gang usually flees to Nepal and uses hideouts provided by their associates or foreign handlers. A First Information Report (FIR) No 6 was registered under Section 111 (3)(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 (6)(7) of the Arms Act at the Punjab State Crime Police Station in SAS Nagar.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Myanmar-sourced weapons entering India via some cadres of Manipur insurgent outfits
Imphal/New Delhi, Security agencies in Manipur have intensified a probe into an arms smuggling racket from Myanmar with potential nationwide ramifications, following the arrest of a senior leader from a Valley-based Insurgent Group . Myanmar-sourced weapons entering India via some cadres of Manipur insurgent outfits The investigation focuses on alleged gun-running operations by some cadres of banned outfits, sourcing weapons from Myanmar and reportedly distributing them across India using forged documents and the help of registered gun houses. The case was cracked by Manipur police in the last week of June, leading to the arrest of four people, including Sinam Somendro Meitei alias 'Richard,' a self-styled Lieutenant Colonel and Project Secretary of the banned terror outfit United National Liberation Front . Richard's arrest highlights a concerning aspect of the UNLF-P's current engagement with peace processes. While the organisation announced a ceasefire in November 2023 and signed an agreement with the Manipur government, it has since been accused of dragging its feet on surrender negotiations. The officials said the group has failed to deposit its weapons or provide a list of its members as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement and also alleged that some members of the group have been indulging in extortion and other anti-social activities. The operation in the present case began after specific intelligence about an arms-smuggling-dealing-middleman gang in the greater Imphal area was received on June 24. This led to the initial detention of Lanchenba Nongthombam, proprietor of Nongthombam Gun House who was found to be selling firearms without proper documentation, and his disclosure led the police to Richard, the officials alleged. They said the foreign-made weapons were smuggled into India from Myanmar through its porous border, allegedly by some cadres of the banned UNLF-P and these arms were then sold across the country using a fabricated paper trail. The officials said that one such case has already been detected in Punjab, and investigations are ongoing to trace the sale of these foreign arms in other parts of the country. This constitutes a serious offence under the Arms Act. Under Section 10 of the Arms Act, import of foreign weapons in India is prohibited except for in the case of sports persons and that too after getting prior approvals. During raids at the residence of Richard, police recovered four US-made revolvers and pistols, one Austrian-made revolver, one Indian pistol, several rounds of ammunition meant for foreign arms, z=a wireless set and high-end mobile phones. Richard's criminal history, as highlighted by police, dates back two decades, and he was first arrested in 1995 under the Unlawful Activities Act. Subsequent arrests occurred in 2005 and 2006 for charges including extortion and UA violations. He was also arrested by Meghalaya police in Shillong in September 2006. In July 2003, Richard was allegedly involved in transporting cadres between Guwahati and Bangladesh, and in handling illicit financial transactions, including converting currency into taka and dollars. After his arrest, officials said Richard allegedly attempted to leverage his affiliation with the UNLF-P and its ongoing ceasefire talks. However, police officials were unmoved as he is suspected of involvement in an arms running racket that could have national ramifications. Led by Kh Pambei, the UNLF made history in 2023 by becoming the first Meitei armed group in the Imphal Valley to engage in a ceasefire agreement with the government, pledging to renounce violence. However, the security officials had warned at that time that this may be an attempt by the group to evade growing pressure from the police and other security agencies, as many of its cadres were allegedly involved in extortion and other activities. The UNLF's demand for camp establishment near Kuki-populated areas was met with resistance from security agencies, fearing a potential escalation of ethnic conflicts that have already resulted in over 200 casualties. Despite the ceasefire agreement's intent to halt hostilities, some incidents in 2024 show UNLF members carrying out violent activities with impunity, even looting arms from security forces. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Today
21-06-2025
- India Today
How a trail of rifles from Dimapur to Muzaffarpur exposed India's hidden arms corridor
When the National Investigation Agency (NIA) lodged a supplementary chargesheet against four Bihar residents for gunrunning, it tore asunder the velvet curtain on a clandestine arms pipeline. The NIA probe revealed how military-grade weapons slipped from the misty bazaars of Nagaland into the hands of Naxalite insurgents and ruthless criminal syndicates across Bihar and four suppliers have been arrested so far, and transactions totalling Rs 58 lakh traced to two bank accounts—but who can say how many more shadowy figures prowl Bihar's underbelly, trading death for profit?advertisementThe platform seizureThe saga began in May 2024, when Muzaffarpur Rail Police stopped two young men—Vikash Kumar and Satyam Kumar—on the station platform and found on them the butt and optical scope of an AK-47. The two confessed to supplying a complete AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition to Devmani Rai. A raid at Rai's safe house yielded the weapon and cartridges, and two days later the net closed on yet another operative: Ahmed Ansari, traced to Dimapur in Nagaland. Financial forensicsInvestigators soon uncovered a web of pecuniary evidence. Rai's Muzaffarpur bank account showed inflows of Rs 38 lakh between April 2022 and April 2024, while an IDFC First Bank account in Dimapur, held by Ansari, received deposits of Rs 20 lakh from March 2023 to April 2024. These sums, investigators believe, underpinned the procurement and shipment of prohibited breadcrumbsFive mobile phones—seized from Kumar, Ansari and a co-accused—proved equally illuminating. A report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi confirmed photographs of an AK-47, a Beretta pistol and an Austrian-made Glock, alongside images of an unidentified individual and railway tickets for journeys between Muzaffarpur and Dimapur. Call-detail records further mapped a tight network of communication linking all four suspects, who shared a common contact in one Ranjeet Das of shadow marketDimapur, Nagaland's commercial heart, has long been a nexus for licit trade and contraband alike. Its porous frontiers—with Myanmar to the east and Assam's plains to the west—have enabled insurgent groups to source arms via local fixers. Investigators now believe Ansari tapped this very network, purchasing genuine AK-47 components for cash and dispatching them by rail, concealed among mechanical spares or agriculture equipment—cargo that seldom attracts December raidsSeven months after the initial arrest, the NIA conducted searches at 17 locations in December 2024—six in Bihar alone. In Mankauli village, Muzaffarpur district, agents searched the home of panchayat chief Nand Kishore Yadav (aka Bhola Rai), seizing ledgers, walkie-talkies and lakhs in cash.A network of fixersAt the heart of this operation were not hardened militants but local functionaries, including an elected panchayat head, tasked with safe-keeping rifle parts, arranging forged permits and coordinating payments. Bhola Rai's ledger listed payments in lakhs to shell firms in Nagaland; municipal records from Parsa hinted that local funds were diverted to accounts linked to Ansari's network. These intermediaries lacked ideological motive, instead viewing arms trafficking as a lucrative commercial interstate arms corridorTaken together, these findings expose a far-reaching pipeline: prohibited arms procured in Dimapur's shadow markets, ferried into Bihar via India's vast rail and road networks, and distributed to insurgents and criminal syndicates alike. Eastern India's border states—West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya—serve as entry points for smuggled weapons and explosives, which then transit to the Gangetic plains, fuelling pockets of extremist and reflectionToday, as the NIA continues to sift through terabytes of mobile-phone data and financial logs, one question looms large: how did AK-47 components traverse hundreds of kilometres unchecked? The four accused now languish in jail, facing charges under the Arms Act and, since May, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Yet, for security analysts, the true victory will be sealing the systemic gaps that allowed this pipeline to findings expose a far-reaching pipeline: prohibited arms procured in Dimapur's shadow markets, ferried into Bihar via India's vast rail and road networks, and distributed to insurgents and criminal syndicates alike. The couriers travelled not just by train, but also in a black Mahindra Thar—registered under the name of Devmani Rai's mother—its bulky frame offering an unremarkable disguise for smuggling weapons and ferrying cash. It was a calculated use of middle-class respectability to mask underworld the Bihar election on the horizon and security forces braced for more cross-border arms inflows, the Muzaffarpur–Dimapur saga stands as a stark reminder: India's decades-long struggle against internal insurgency no longer plays out solely in remote jungles or rugged hills—it courses along rail tracks and highways, threading through villages, municipalities and even courtrooms. At every junction, it demands sharper vigilance, deeper coordination and an unwavering resolve to confront the traffickers who profit from to India Today Magazine
