PHAGWARA: The district police have arrested five men after intercepting a car and recovering an illegal firearm along with live cartridges during a naka operation near Dilwan.
Cops said they had set up barricades as part of a routine high-tech checkpoint when a white Swift car bearing registration number PB 07 CE 3307 approached from the Amritsar side. Although signaled to stop, the driver allegedly attempted to speed through but was forced to halt after colliding with the barricade.
The vehicle was immediately surrounded and its occupants were ordered out. They identified themselves as Salim of Bham village in Hoshiarpur; Sahil of Panchhata village in Kapurthala; Jaskaran Singh alias Happy of Bham; Gurvinder Singh alias Guri of Bham; and Balraj Singh of Bham.
A thorough search of the car led to the discovery of a country-made pistol, a magazine, and five live cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber hidden beneath the gear lever cover inside a polythene packet. None of the men could produce a valid license for the weapon. They were immediately taken into custody.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Murat Singh, who supervised the naka, confirmed the recovery and said a case under the Arms Act has been registered. Police have begun further investigations into the background of the accused and the origin of the firearm.