JAMMU — Police in Samba have busted an inter-state narcotics and illegal arms syndicate with links to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, arresting 10 persons, including key members of the Gataru gang, officials said on Friday.
Police also recovered five pistols, one country-made weapon, 27.66 grams of heroin, 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 23 grams of gunpowder, 113 pellets and four pellet caps during the investigation.
The action was taken during the investigation of FIR No. 146/2026 registered at Police Station Vijaypur under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Arms Act.
The case originated on August 22, when a police party intercepted a Swift car bearing registration number JK21J-3391 at AIIMS Naka, Vijaypur, during routine checking. The driver, identified as Sourab Baloria, a resident of Vijaypur, was allegedly found in possession of 9.08 grams of heroin-like substance and a pistol.
Following the incident, SSP Samba constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by DSP Headquarters Samba, to investigate the case and identify the wider network.
During sustained investigation, police established the alleged links of Sourab Baloria with the Gataru gang, headed by brothers Sourav Gupta and Gaurav Gupta, both residents of Vijaypur. Baloria was allegedly functioning as a key logistical facilitator for the gang’s activities in Samba and surrounding areas.
Further investigation revealed the alleged involvement of Vivek Kumar, a resident of Hanumannagar, Sitamarhi, Bihar, presently residing in Vijaypur and working at Ravi Fast Food. Police said the premises were allegedly being used to provide temporary shelter to gang associates and facilitate financial transactions.
The investigation also identified four Punjab-based associates, Manmohit Singh, Sahib Singh, Vikram Bhardwaj alias Vicky Star and Jagdeep Kaur, all residents of Gopal Nagar, Ajnala, Amritsar, who allegedly facilitated the procurement, movement and supply of narcotics and illegal weapons, besides providing logistical and financial support to the network.
During further investigation, police recovered two country-made pistols, five live 9mm cartridges and 8.37 grams of heroin-like substance from Vivek Kumar, officials said.
Financial investigation also exposed alleged systematic movement of funds, with transactions exceeding Rs 1 crore between the gang leaders and other members of the network, they added.
In a major inter-state operation, Samba Police, with assistance from Uttar Pradesh Police, traced and arrested gang leaders Sourav Gupta and Gaurav Gupta, along with their associate Rohit Baloria, from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Police investigation further revealed that the accused were allegedly taking shelter at the residence of Mohd Maaz, son of Mohd Zakir, a resident of Saigang, Tehsil Sadar Bazar, Meerut, during their period of evasion. He allegedly provided them shelter and logistical support, following which relevant provisions of the BNS were invoked in the case.
On the disclosure of the arrested accused, police subsequently recovered two pistols, 12 live 9mm cartridges, one country-made weapon, 23 grams of gunpowder, 113 pellets, four pellet caps and approximately 10.21 grams of heroin from an area behind AIIMS Vijaypur, near Devak river, officials said.
Police said the investigation has also revealed leads regarding the alleged procurement of illegal weapons through intermediaries linked to the Punjab-Haryana-based Ghanashyampuria gang.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and dismantle its alleged narcotics supply chains, illegal arms procurement channels and financial infrastructure, officials added. — (KIMS)