India to probe Pak ‘hand’ in smuggling racket

The case of seizure of arms, narcotics, fake currency and Pakistani phones from Amritsar in July has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the home ministry for investigation into a suspected larger conspiracy by the ISI, a report in Times of India said.
In July, Punjab Police had seized 11kg of heroin valued at around Rs55 crore in international market, Rs5 lakh in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), one Italian Breta pistol and 38 live cartridges, and a Pakistani phone with Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited connection following the arrest of three cross-border smugglers.
Sources said the proposal to hand over the case to NIA was moved by Punjab Police. “The home ministry has given its nod and a fresh case will now be filed by the NIA,” said an official.
The home ministry, said sources, wants NIA to investigate a larger conspiracy by Pakistan to push fake currency, narcotics and arms into India using smuggling networks. “The fact that a Pakistani phone has been recovered from the accused is proof of the fact that the entire network is being funded and supported by Pakistan,” said the official.
Investigations have also found a unique modus operandi in the case. Pakistani associates of the accused would conceal the consignments under earth on zero line – an area on the border that belongs to neither India nor Pakistan, but is frequented by people living near the frontier on both sides.
At an appropriate time, said sources, when BSF patrolling would be thin in the area, the accused would fish out the consignment and take it to clients.
In the present case the accused have been identified as one Dilbagh Singh, his son Bikramjit Singh and one Gurpartap Singh. Sources said the trio has been indulging in smuggling for a long time. NIA hopes to get details of the cross-border network by questioning the accused.