Nawanshahr, SBS Nagar, October 22: Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Counter Intelligence and in coordination with SBS Nagar Police, apprehended two associates linked to a gangster network from Nawanshahr and recovered two sophisticated .30 calibre pistols along with ammunition, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Thursday, IANS reported.

The DGP, writing on X, said their timely arrest averted a planned targeted killing. According to the police's preliminary investigation, as reported by IANS, the accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers and had allegedly been tasked with eliminating a rival gang member during his court appearance in SBS Nagar. These are police claims at the investigation stage, not findings established in court.

Police also said the accused have disclosed their alleged involvement in the murder of a sarpanch in Ludhiana on October 3, and that police suspect links to a contract killing allegedly orchestrated by foreign-based handlers. That disclosure is also a police claim reported by IANS; it has not been independently established, and the accused are to be treated as alleged offenders unless a court decides otherwise.

"Further investigation is underway to establish their wider criminal network and linkages," the DGP added, according to IANS. The IANS report did not name the two accused in the SBS Nagar operation.

The arrest comes a day after Amritsar Rural Police, in a separate operation reported earlier, busted a drug trafficking, illegal arms and explosives smuggling network with the arrest of seven people and the recovery of a hand grenade, two pistols and about 3.4 kg of heroin, police said.