PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Jaspur (US Nagar)
Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two notorious arms smugglers in a major crackdown on illegal weapons on Tuesday. A large number of automatic firearms, ammunition and a vehicle used in their smuggling were recovered from their possession.
Police said that the STF’s anti-narcotics team, Kumaon, has achieved this success through a joint operation with the Jaspur police station. The arrested accused are Shamsher Singh (39), a resident of Hajira village under Jaspur police station limits, and Simranjit (37), a resident of Anjaniya Farm under Pulbhatta police station limits.
According to police, two pump-action guns, two pistols (.32 bore) and 10 live cartridges were recovered from the accused. During interrogation, the accused are learnt to have revealed that they had brought these weapons from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and were about to sell them in Jaspur. It has also emerged from the interrogation that the plan was to use fake licenses to make them appear legitimate.
Police further said that Simranjit is a history-sheeter against whom more than a dozen criminal cases have been registered in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The police have registered a case against both the accused under appropriate sections of the Arms Act at Jaspur police station and have initiated further investigation. The Special Task Force (STF) is now investigating other individuals involved in this network and the supply chain.
Notably, this is the third major operation by STF in the last two weeks. In 10 days, STF has arrested five notorious criminals and recovered six illegal pistols, two pump-action guns, two pistols and 31 cartridges.
