Chandigarh, Aug 11 (PTI) A cross-border arms smuggling module allegedly linked to foreign-based gangster Deepak Nandal has been busted with the arrest of four persons, including three operatives who were planning a firing and extortion bid in Gurugram, police said on Tuesday.
The Operation Cell of Chandigarh Police, who busted the module also arrested Nishan Singh (32), an arms smuggler who was allegedly in direct contact with a Pakistan-based weapon supplier.
The other three accused — Ajay (19), Rohit (18) and Dev (18) — were allegedly operatives of the Nandal gang who received the illegal weapons and were preparing to execute the planned criminal activity, police said.
The arrests were made on August 3 when a team of the Operation Cell led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Keshav was patrolling Chandigarh as part of heightened security arrangements ahead of Independence Day.
During patrolling, the police team, acting on suspicion, apprehended the three youths. A cursory search led to the recovery of two sophisticated foreign-made pistols — a Zigana pistol and a China-made PX3 pistol — along with one magazine and 11 live cartridges, according to a police statement.
The three were subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, it emerged that Ajay, Rohit and Dev, along with Nandal, were allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy to carry out extortion and were about to commit an incident of firing. The trio had already conducted a recce of the intended target in Gurugram, police said.
Further investigation led to inter-state raids and the arrest of Nishan Singh, identified as the main weapon supplier and an intermediary between the cross-border arms network and the gang’s ground-level operatives.
Police said Nishan, who studied up to Class 12, was in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler and had received illegal consignments of weapons on his agricultural land through drones operating across the border.
He subsequently supplied the weapons to associates of gangsters operating from abroad, police said.
A case was registered against all four accused on August 4 under relevant provisions of the law.
Investigation has established that Ajay, Rohit and Dev were allegedly groomed by foreign-based gangster Deepak Nandal after being lured with promises of huge amounts of money, police said.
According to the police, Nandal was in touch with a Pakistan-based weapon supplier and arranged for the weapons to be delivered through Nishan to his associates — Ajay, Rohit and Dev.
The contact between Nandal and the three youths was established by Arun, a resident of Sonipat district who is currently working in the UAE, the police statement said.
Police said Ajay, Rohit and Dev had studied up to Class 9.
Ajay, a resident of Nidani village in Jind district of Haryana, was living with his maternal grandmother in Silana village and working as a helper in a company.
He allegedly acted as the primary link between the foreign-based gangster network and his associates on the ground. On Nandal’s directions, he conducted a recce of the identified target and coordinated the movement and receipt of illegal weapons, police said.
Ajay initially established contact with Nandal through a foreign-based associate using social media platforms. He allegedly introduced Rohit and Dev to the gang and coordinated with them on instructions received from its members.
Rohit, also from Nidani village in Jind district, was living with his mother and working at an electric shop.
Ajay allegedly facilitated his contact with Nandal’s gang. Rohit participated in the recce of the intended target and was part of the group tasked with carrying out the planned criminal activity, police said.
He remained in communication with gang members for instructions relating to the recce, movement and execution of assigned criminal activities.
Dev, a resident of Vishwakarma Colony in Jind district, was working as a helper at a shop.
Ajay allegedly introduced him to Nandal’s gang. Dev participated in the recce and was part of the group preparing to execute the planned criminal conspiracy, police said.
He remained in contact with gang members to receive directions and coordinate with the other accused.
Nishan Singh, a resident of Kakar village in Amritsar district of Punjab, runs a dairy in his village.
He allegedly acted as an intermediary for receiving and delivering illegal firearms and ammunition to the gang’s ground-level operatives.
Police said Nishan had established contact with a person based in Pakistan and received illegal weapon consignments on his agricultural land through drones as part of the cross-border network.
He then facilitated the onward supply of the weapons to associates of gangsters operating from abroad. PTI SUN NB NB
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