Delhi Police has arrested two more members of the international arms smuggling and terror module linked to ISI. The total arrests have reached 18. Sub-machine gun, foreign pistol and 82 live cartridges have been recovered from them.
New Delhi [भारत]July 28 (ANI): The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested two more key operatives of an alleged international arms smuggling and terror module linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Officials said on Monday that a sub-machine gun, three sophisticated foreign pistols and 82 live cartridges were recovered from them.
With the fresh arrests, the total number of accused arrested in this case has increased to 18, while the total recovery now stands at 32 sophisticated foreign made weapons and 363 live cartridges. The provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have already been invoked in this case.
How did the syndicate work?
According to a press release issued by the Crime Branch, these arrests were made by a team of the Anti-Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) as part of the ongoing investigation into the international arms smuggling and terror module. The Crime Branch alleged that this syndicate used to import sophisticated foreign weapons from Pakistan by hiding the weapon parts inside specially made welding machines and gearboxes. These weapons were transported through air cargo to Kathmandu, Nepal, from where they were smuggled into India and distributed among organized criminal networks.
According to the police, the investigation revealed that the syndicate was not only involved in illegal arms smuggling for financial gains but was also allegedly supplying sophisticated weapons to terrorist organizations, organized criminal gangs and other anti-national elements operating in India. The crime branch also alleged that the entire network was supported by Pakistan’s ISI.
role of the accused
Police said one of the arrested operatives played a key role in receiving the arms consignment, assembling the weapon parts into fully functioning weapons, storing them at safe places in Delhi and supplying them to organized criminal gangs. The investigators also alleged that he had set up an illegal arms manufacturing and assembly unit in north-east Delhi to facilitate the operation of the network.
The second arrested operative allegedly worked as a distributor of sophisticated foreign weapons in Uttar Pradesh. He further procured arms and live cartridges to supply to criminal networks. According to investigators, the proceeds from these transactions were allegedly to be used to fund terrorist activities in India.
Huge quantity of weapons and cartridges recovered
During this latest operation, the Crime Branch has recovered one sub-machine gun made in Czech Republic, three semi-automatic pistols made in Italy and Czech Republic and 82 live cartridges.
Further investigation into the alleged international arms smuggling and terror module is underway. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)