Ludhiana: After dismantling a sophisticated interstate extortion racket run by fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, the district police have uncovered the network’s high-tech smuggling operation that utilised drones to ferry foreign-made weapons across the border.The investigation, which led to the arrest of 10 suspects, revealed an arsenal of 12 illegal firearms valued at more than Rs 40 lakh. Among the seized weapons were elite Austrian-made Zigana and Glock pistols, which police say were procured from Moga and Amritsar after being dropped by drones from Pakistan.The Ludhiana police commissionerate highlighted the extreme financial investment the gang had placed in its weaponry. According to senior officials, the seized inventory included two Zigana pistols (among those a rare “sports model” ) valued at Rs 10 lakh each, two Glock pistols worth about Rs 5 lakh each, and high-quality country-made pistols, with several .30 and .32-bore weapons sourced through local networks.Investigators found that while the sophisticated foreign arms were drone-delivered, several country-made pistols were arranged by Mukul Mattu, an inmate at Ludhiana Central Jail who was allegedly coordinating operations from behind bars.The recruitment of ‘Loyal Aides’The probe offered a chilling insight into how the gang recruits and retains young operatives. Beyond simple cash payments for extortions and shootings, the Brar syndicate operates as a “shadow welfare state” for its members. “The gangsters provide comprehensive support,” a senior official stated. “They offer legal assistance in court and guarantee that the families of operatives will be financially cared for if they are arrested. This promise of a safety net is how they secure such deep loyalty from these youngsters.”Strategic operations and arrestsThe racket, allegedly directed by Brar and Rajasthan-based criminal Varinder Charan, targeted prominent businessmen across Punjab and Haryana. The operation utilized a mix of seasoned criminals and “clean-skin” recruits with no prior police records. The 10 arrested individuals include jail inmates (Shubham Grover (Ferozepur Jail) and Mukul Mattu (Ludhiana Central Jail)), besides field operatives (Jatin alias Sam, Jaspreet Singh, Jatin Kataria, and others).Two additional suspects, Manav and Vikas, were intercepted by the Haryana Special Task Force (STF) in Sonipat while attempting to deliver pistols under the instruction of Varinder Charan, who is believed to be operating from abroad. A growing networkThe syndicate was bolstered by alliances between Punjab and Rajasthan-based gangs, including the Rohit Godara group. By merging resources, the gangsters managed to recruit more than 10 youths from Ludhiana alone to execute high-stakes crimes. Police are currently working with international agencies to track Charan and other key members still at large. MSID:: 126989783 413 |
