Chandigarh Police said they have arrested three men linked to a cross-border and inter-state arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) supply network, following an investigation into the killing of a pharmacy cashier last month. Police also formally arrested alleged main conspirator Dharminder Singh alias Goli, accused of directing others on a foreign handler’s instructions.
India
-Krishna Kripa
Chandigarh Police said a cross-border and inter-state network moving arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes has been uncovered. Police linked the wider supply chain to the June killing of a pharmacy cashier in Chandigarh. Three more arrests were made, and police said the probe also led to the formal arrest of the alleged main conspirator.
Chandigarh Police said they have arrested three men linked to a cross-border and inter-state arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) supply network, following an investigation into the killing of a pharmacy cashier last month. Police also formally arrested alleged main conspirator Dharminder Singh alias Goli, accused of directing others on a foreign handler’s instructions.
Police said the latest operation targeted suspects in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts of Punjab. The team arrested Akash Kumar alias Mani, Sachin Silvester and Gurmeet Singh Badshah, all from Tarn Taran. Chandigarh Police said the arrests followed leads developed from earlier detentions in the cashier murder case.
Chandigarh Police probe links cashier killing to narco terror network
On June 13, two masked men shot dead pharmacy cashier Janki Das, 45, in Sector 11, Chandigarh. Police said the shooting happened in daylight. The incident was recorded by a CCTV camera inside the shop. Police said the murder inquiry exposed a layered pipeline connected to organised crime.
Chandigarh Police said Dharminder Singh alias Goli was the main conspirator in what police called a narco terror network. Police said members of this network were allegedly involved in the cashier’s killing. Goli was already lodged in Kapurthala jail in Punjab. Police said Goli will be brought on production remand.
Chandigarh Police recover ICE, FICN and pistols during Punjab operation
Police said 3.028 kg of the narcotic drug ICE Methamphetamine was recovered during the operation. Police also seized fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 8 lakh. Two sophisticated pistols and magazines were also recovered. Police said the seizures pointed to a larger inter-state criminal network.
Police said Gurmeet Singh Badshah played a key support role for the shooters. Police said Badshah arranged a meeting between the shooters and Goli. Police said Badshah gave shelter at home to Sunny Mehra and Amit. Police said Badshah provided a pistol and cash, and also guided them.
Chandigarh Police detail drone drops and encrypted coordination
Police said handlers based in Pakistan and other foreign safe havens used drones to send contraband. Police said Punjab’s border location was exploited for low-flying drops. Police said a local network collected the payload after it landed. Police said coordination used end-to-end encrypted messaging to evade agencies.
Police said foreign operatives coordinated with jail-based kingpins to run the pipeline. Police said Goli had 32 previous criminal cases, including murder, extortion and drug violations. Police said operations continued from inside Kapurthala Jail. Police said Goli acted at the behest of a foreign handler.
Police said border-belt associates collected drone-dropped weapons and narcotics on Goli’s directions. Police said the syndicate brought hitmen from Jammu & Kashmir. Police said safehouses were arranged for them. Police said the smuggled pistols were test-fired, and targets were surveyed before attacks.
Police said the conspirators arranged illegal firearms and resources for the Chandigarh crime. Police said funding came through narcotics, cash and FICN, and vehicles were arranged. Police said the same network supplied ICE and FICN. Police said teams are also working to break gangster networks tied to extortion and firing.
Police said further investigation is continuing to identify other associates in the conspiracy. Police said efforts are under way to trace the source of the recovered contraband and illegal weapons. Police said the aim is to uncover the complete network behind the crime and make more arrests where evidence supports action.
With inputs from PTI
