CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA, August 11: Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested an alleged operative of a foreign-based gangster network in Bathinda and recovered a country-made .32-bore pistol and two live cartridges from his possession, police said on Tuesday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Jasdeep Singh alias Jassa, 25, a resident of Beer Behman village in Bathinda.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation indicated that Jassa had procured the illegal weapon on the directions of a foreign-based gangster and was allegedly planning to carry out a “sensational crime” in Punjab.
The DGP said further investigation was underway to establish the accused’s forward and backward linkages and uncover other persons connected with the network.
ADGP AGTF Promod Ban said AGTF personnel were on routine patrol when they noticed Jassa behaving suspiciously near the boundary wall of Rajindra College. He allegedly became nervous on seeing the police vehicle, following which the team detained him.
A search led to the recovery of the .32-bore pistol and two live cartridges, the ADGP said.
According to police, Jassa has a criminal history and has previously been involved in several criminal cases, including those registered under the Arms Act and other criminal activities.
A case, FIR No. 164 dated August 10, 2026, has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act at Kotwali police station in Bathinda.
The investigation is continuing to identify the alleged foreign-based handler and determine the intended target and wider criminal network.
