Chandigarh ( Naval Kishore): In a major breakthrough against organized crime, the Chandigarh Police Operation Cell has busted an interstate illegal arms supply network linked to the notorious Lucky Patial Bambhia gang. A total of eight accused have been arrested in a series of coordinated operations, with police recovering 14 pistols and 15 live cartridges.
Acting under the directions of senior officers including W/DGP Sagar Preet Hooda, IGP Pushpender Kumar, DIG Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and under the supervision of SP Operations Geetanjali Khandelwal, special teams were constituted to track down anti-social elements and disrupt illegal arms circulation in the Tri-City region.
During a targeted operation on April 14, police arrested two key accused, Rahul alias Rally and Monu alias Kandu, both residents of Manimajra. Investigations revealed that Rahul was actively procuring illegal weapons from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and supplying them to criminal gangs involved in serious offences such as murder, robbery, and ransom. Four weapons, including three semi-automatic pistols and one desi katta along with live cartridges, were recovered from his possession.
Monu alias Kandu, who played a crucial role in connecting suppliers from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, was also found in possession of four illegal weapons and ammunition. Police said he had prior involvement in arms supply and drug trafficking activities across the Tri-City.
During sustained interrogation, both accused disclosed their links with associates of the Lucky Patial–Bambhia gang, leading to further arrests. Another accused, Govind alias Gaurav, was apprehended, and one country-made pistol with a live cartridge was recovered. Police said he intended to establish his identity in the criminal world and used weapons to create fear among local residents.
In a parallel crackdown, additional arrests were made during routine patrolling and special drives. Accused Aman alias Batak and Sanju alias Kancha were arrested in separate cases with illegal country-made pistols and live cartridges.
In a significant development, a wanted criminal, Mukesh alias Gullu, was apprehended after a brief encounter near Sector 25. The accused opened fire on the police team, prompting retaliation in which he sustained a bullet injury in his leg. Police recovered a .32 bore pistol along with cartridges from his possession.
Further, two more accused, Gurdeep Singh and Monu Jaiswal alias Moni, were arrested during a midnight operation, leading to the recovery of additional illegal firearms and ammunition.
Police officials stated that the accused were part of an organized network procuring illegal arms through interstate channels and distributing them among gang members across Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab, thereby strengthening criminal activities in the region. Senior police officials, while speaking to National Times, said that continuous pressure from VIP movements and increasing urban crime poses operational challenges, but such targeted crackdowns demonstrate their commitment to maintaining law and order. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to identify further links and dismantle the entire network involved in illegal arms trafficking
