Amritsar: The alleged collection of a pistol from Amritsar for the Oct 18 firing at actor Tiger Shroff has renewed focus on suspected cross-border smuggling networks in Punjab, where police have reported repeated seizures of illegal firearms, explosives and narcotics.Security agencies have previously raised concerns about suspected Pakistani handlers using cross-border channels to smuggle weapons and drugs into Punjab. However, no publicly established link between Pakistan’s ISI and the weapon in the Tiger Shroff firing has been cited in reports on the case.According to Delhi Police, Kunal (21), a resident of Sonipat in Haryana, allegedly collected a pistol and 20 rounds of ammunition from Amritsar on the instructions of Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang believed to be operating abroad. Sumit (19), also from Sonipat, allegedly accompanied him. The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested the two men and two women, Radha (23) and Babita (23), from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday for their alleged roles in the firing.The development comes amid a spate of arms recoveries across Punjab. Between Oct 1 and 21, police seized 87 pistols, three rifles, including an AK-47 and an M16, and six hand grenades, besides ammunition and magazines.Amritsar accounted for a substantial share of the seizures. Amritsar Rural Police recovered 22 pistols, two rifles and four grenades in multiple operations, while Amritsar Commissionerate Police seized 31 pistols. Counter Intelligence, Amritsar, recovered 13 pistols, an assault rifle, two grenades and 25 live cartridges in a suspected cross-border smuggling case. SAS Nagar Police seized 10 pistols, Gurdaspur Police seven, while Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, recovered three pistols, five magazines and 11 cartridges. A joint operation by the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Ludhiana Commissionerate Police led to the recovery of a Glock pistol and 20 cartridges.Punjab Police have reported suspected links between separate arms-smuggling cases and foreign-based handlers. In one operation, police said a suspected module had been retrieving weapons, ammunition and explosives allegedly dropped by drones across the international border. Repeated seizures of heroin and other narcotics have also kept the border belt under scrutiny.Investigators are expected to trace the pistol’s origin and establish how it reached the accused. Sources said encrypted messaging apps may have been used to communicate the pickup location.Inspector general of police, Border Range, and Amritsar commissioner of police Harmanbir Singh Gill said they had no information about the specific development in the Mumbai firing case.
