Kapurthala: Punjab Police on Sunday busted an illegal arms supply module in Kapurthala district and recovered five country-made 7.65 mm pistols during a special operation. Two individuals, including a juvenile, were arrested in connection with the case.

The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay Kumar, a resident of Mehrajwala village in Jalandhar district, while the second accused is a 17-year-old juvenile whose identity has not been disclosed due to legal provisions.

Officials said preliminary investigations suggest that the accused were allegedly operating under the instructions of handlers based abroad.

Foreign-based handlers involved

According to Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police of Punjab, the initial probe revealed that the suspects were acting on the directions of foreign-based handlers residing in the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.

The DGP said the network appeared to be part of a wider criminal module involved in procuring illegal weapons and distributing them to criminal groups operating in Punjab.

Investigators believe the recovered firearms were intended to be used for violent activities such as firing incidents and extortion operations.

Officials said such weapons are often supplied to gang members to intimidate business owners and residents.

Weapons sourced from Madhya Pradesh

Police said the preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were procuring illegal firearms from the state of Madhya Pradesh.

After acquiring the weapons, the accused allegedly transported them into Punjab and supplied them to criminal gangs.

Authorities suspect that the supply chain involved multiple intermediaries and could be linked to organised crime networks.

Police officials said they are examining communication records and other evidence to identify the broader network involved in the operation.

Arrests made following intelligence inputs

The operation was carried out after police received specific intelligence inputs regarding illegal arms movement in the region.

According to Gaurav Toora, officers first arrested Ajay Kumar and recovered one country-made pistol from his possession.

Further interrogation of the accused led police to his accomplice, the 17-year-old juvenile.

During the follow-up operation, police recovered four more pistols from the juvenile’s possession, bringing the total recovery to five firearms.

Officials said the arrests have helped disrupt a potential supply chain for illegal weapons in the district.

Case registered under Arms Act

Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 25 of the Arms Act.

Investigators said further questioning of the suspects is underway to uncover the entire network behind the illegal arms supply.

Authorities are also working to identify the foreign-based handlers who allegedly directed the operation.

Officials said additional arrests may be made as the investigation progresses.

Part of broader crackdown on gang activity

The police action comes shortly after the launch of a large-scale crackdown on criminals and gangsters in the state.

The initiative forms part of the Punjab government’s “War Against Gangsters” campaign under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

As part of this effort, the state recently conducted Operation Prahar – 2, a three-day drive targeting wanted criminals and gang networks across Punjab.

During the 72-hour operation held between February 8 and February 10, 2026, police arrested more than 3,200 individuals and conducted 8,278 raids at locations linked to criminals.

The drive followed the earlier phase of the campaign, Operation Prahar – 1, during which police arrested 3,256 individuals and seized 69 illegal weapons within a similar time frame.

Officials said the continued operations demonstrate the state’s commitment to dismantling organised crime networks and preventing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Efforts to dismantle arms networks

Police authorities emphasised that illegal weapons trafficking remains a serious concern because it fuels criminal activities such as extortion, gang violence and targeted attacks.

By targeting arms supply chains and arresting intermediaries, investigators aim to disrupt the infrastructure that supports organised crime.

Officials said intelligence gathering and coordination between different law enforcement units are being strengthened to track similar modules operating in the region.

With the latest arrests, police hope to gather more information about the cross-border network involved in supplying weapons to criminal gangs.

The investigation continues as authorities work to identify additional suspects and prevent the spread of illegal firearms in the state.