Man held for supplying arms to pro-Khalistan supporters

IN TRAP The accused was nabbed by the Uttar Pradesh ATS and State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar, in a joint operation from UP’s Muzaffarnagar district

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Accused Sanjay’s name had surfaced in connection with supply of arms on the basis of info provided by pro-Khalistan group members arrested in Punjab a few weeks ago. ASIM ARUN , IG, UP ATS

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar, in a joint operation on Saturday arrested a man for allegedly supplying weapons to pro-Khalistan groups of Punjab in Muzaffarnagar, officials said.

The ATS officials said the suspect was arrested on the tip-off provided by the Punjab Police’s state special operation cell about his involvement in supplying over three dozen weapons to Khalistan supporters.

Inspector general (IG), UP ATS, Asim Arun said the suspect, 25-year-old Sanjay Rathi alias Guddu, was arrested from his house in Muzaffarnagar’s Etawa village.

He said Guddu’s name surfaced in connection with the supply of firearms on the basis of information provided by proKhalistan group members Daljeet Singh Babbal and Satnam Singh Manni, who were arrested in Punjab a few weeks ago.

The IG said the Punjab Police had recovered two pistols, three magazines and nine cartridges from their possession.

“The two men arrested in Punjab were members of a global Sikh separatists’ group known as Referendum 2020,” he said.

Rigorous interrogation of Guddu revealed he had sold over three dozen weapons to different groups in Punjab in the past 10-11 months, the cop further said.

HANDED OVER TO PUNJAB POLICE

“Guddu has been handed over to Punjab Police for further investigation, but the ATS team is also looking into the arms supplier nexus in different districts of west UP, including Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Moradabad,” he said.