Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Jammu Police have arrested a man and recovered a pistol, a magazine and two live rounds from his possession in the Bishnah area on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said on Monday.
The accused has been identified as Asif Ali Chowdhary, a resident of Langotia in Miran Sahib. He was apprehended late on Sunday night, police said.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station Bishnah under relevant sections of the Arms Act, and an investigation has been initiated. Police are probing the source of the weapon, the purpose for which it was being carried and whether the case has links to other criminal activity. Further details are awaited as the investigation proceeds.
Arrests of this kind are a routine part of policing in areas on the outskirts of Jammu city, where checking, patrolling and intelligence-based operations are carried out to prevent illegal arms from circulating. Recovery of a pistol with ammunition leads investigators to ask where it came from, who supplied it and whether it was meant for use in any offence. Those questions typically form the core of the inquiry in cases registered under the Arms Act.
Police generally trace the chain of supply in such cases by examining the accused’s contacts, call records and movements. If the weapon turns out to be linked to earlier incidents, other cases may be added to the investigation. For now, the information available does not indicate any such link, and police have said that this aspect is under examination.
The arrest was made late at night, a time when police nakas and patrols are particularly active during festive periods. It came just after Diwali celebrations, which also place additional demands on police for crowd management and law and order. Authorities in the region usually step up vigilance in this period to ensure that the festive season passes peacefully.
Under the Arms Act, possession of a firearm without a valid licence is a punishable offence, and courts take the matter seriously where ammunition is also recovered. The accused will be produced before the competent court in accordance with the law, and police may seek his custody for further questioning.
The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the details of his alleged purpose have not been disclosed. Police have said further details will be shared as the investigation proceeds.
