Patiala: In a significant crackdown on organized crime, the Patiala Police has dismantled an inter-state illegal arms smuggling network with the arrest of four individuals, including a key supplier from Bihar. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, announced on Thursday, April 2, 2026, that the operation led to the recovery of 10 sophisticated self-loading firearms. The arrests were made following targeted intelligence suggesting that the module was planning to execute a high-profile hit on a rival criminal associated with the notorious Goldy Dhillon network to establish dominance in the region.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Saurabh Kumar from Muzaffarpur, Bihar; Sajan from Sohana, SAS Nagar; Abhishek alias Kaka from Patiala; and Inderjit Singh alias Rohit, also from Patiala. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, Varun Sharma, the Bihar-based suspect, Saurabh Kumar, was allegedly sourcing weapons from illegal manufacturing units in Muzaffarpur and transporting them into Punjab through various covert channels. The operation was executed by the CIA Patiala unit and Shambu Police under the supervision of senior officials, following inputs that the weapons were intended for targeted killings dictated by foreign-based handlers.
Preliminary investigations have uncovered a deep-rooted gang rivalry. One of the accused, Abhishek, was found to be in direct contact with gangster Goldy Dhillon via social media platforms and was actively participating in ongoing gang conflicts. The DGP emphasized that the police are now working to establish the “backward and forward linkages” of this module to completely dismantle the supply chain and identify any further associates involved in the illegal trade.
A formal case has been registered at the Shambu Police Station under Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Arms Act. This breakthrough is part of the Punjab Government’s broader mandate to eliminate the culture of illegal firearms and ensure state-wide security. Authorities have indicated that further raids are likely as they probe the connection between the local operatives and their international orchestrators.
