Two men have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia sector for allegedly collecting arms and narcotics dropped by drones from Pakistan and supplying them to contacts in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, police said. The accused, identified as Rohit Kumar and Ajay, are residents of Treva in Arnia and were allegedly operating as couriers in a wider cross-border supply network.

Police said the investigation led to the recovery of an Italian-made Beretta pistol, two magazines, four live rounds, around 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of opium. Investigators alleged that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based gangster and Khalistani operative Shehzad Bhatti through Instagram and had received at least two consignments dropped by drones near the International Border.

According to investigators, the case came to light after Rohit Kumar was arrested and allegedly disclosed Ajay's involvement during questioning. Police said the two men collected consignments from agricultural fields near the International Border and later handed over the weapons and narcotics to contacts in Punjab and other areas. Investigators are examining their alleged role in supplying weapons to individuals in Punjab.

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Police said the first consignment was allegedly dropped in an agricultural field in Arnia several months ago. The second consignment, which led to the latest recovery, was also allegedly delivered through a drone from Pakistan. Investigators said the accused had buried the packet near a tube-well in an attempt to keep it concealed until it could be collected.

Acting on information obtained during the investigation, a police team recovered the arms and narcotics from the identified location. SHO Arnia Gurmeet Singh confirmed the arrests and said investigators were examining both the forward and backward linkages of the suspected network. An FIR has been registered at Arnia Police Station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act.

Security agencies have previously raised concerns over the use of drones to move weapons and narcotics across the International Border. Investigators are now working to identify other people allegedly connected with the network, including those who may have received consignments after they were collected from the border area. The probe will also examine the extent of the alleged cross-border operation and the channels used to coordinate the deliveries.

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