Ludhiana cops bust illegal arms trade, two held

With the arrest of two suspects, the Ludhiana Police on Tuesday claimed to have busted an illegal arms trade gang and seized seven weapons and bullets from their possession.

Divulging detail, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narinder Bhargav said the intelligence wing of the Punjab Police and the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate in a joint operation arrested two people and seized seven weapons and bullets from their possession.

Of the seven weapons, he said, two were of 9mm calibre and five of 32 bore pistols, besides six extra magazines - two of 9mm and four of 32 bore - 18 cartridges also seized.

The duo- identified by police as Sukesh Yadav from Vaishali district in Bihar, and Navpreet Singh-was travelling in a white Skoda car when police arrested them.

Sukesh's brother Mukesh, alias, Monu, who was actually running the arms trade racket, has been lodged in a Ludhiana jail since 2013, said the ACP.

During questioning, they purportedly disclosed the names of two of their accomplices - Ajay Kumar and Sahibjot Singh Jyoti.

"During preliminary investigation, it has come to light that Monu is in jail since 2013, and got arms supplied from Bihar to accomplices of gangsters lodge in the jail," said the ACP.

However, no link between the arms dealers and the Pathankot attack emerged, he added.