Rising Gang Crime Graph: Bihar student held for supplying arms to gangs in Jammu

Srinagar, Aug 6: Amidst growing concerns over gang-related violence in Jammu, police have arrested a BTech student from Bihar for allegedly supplying illegal arms and ammunition to local gangs operating in Jammu and Samba districts.

The accused, Kaif Ahmed, a native of Siwan district, Bihar, was pursuing a BTech degree from the Central University of Jammu. His arrest follows a weeks-long investigation into a violent shootout that occurred during a wedding in the Miran Sahib area.

Police said that Kaif Ahmed allegedly procured firearms from sources in Bihar and trafficked them into Jammu, where they were sold to criminal gangs engaged in extortion, turf wars, and contract killings. He has been booked under Sections 109/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and 3/25 of the Arms Act, indicating charges related to conspiracy and illegal possession of arms.

His arrest was made possible after the interrogation of Balwinder Singh, alias Goru Jatt, one of the key suspects in the February shootout, who had evaded arrest for several months. Jatt was apprehended two days ago, and during questioning, he confessed that the weapon used in the shootout was supplied by Ahmed. A pistol and cartridges were recovered from Jatt at the time of his arrest.

The incident at a wedding in Miran Sahib has emerged as a flashpoint in the ongoing battle against gang violence in Jammu. According to eyewitnesses, a verbal dispute between two rival groups quickly escalated into a gunfight, resulting in panic and chaos among attendees. While two suspects were nabbed on the day of the incident, Jatt’s arrest and the subsequent capture of Kaif Ahmed have shed light on a broader arms supply chain extending beyond state borders.

Ahmed’s arrest also comes at a time when Jammu has witnessed a disturbing surge in organised gang activity, especially in semi-urban and rural areas.

The involvement of a university student in arms trafficking has alarmed both police and educational authorities. According to senior officers, criminal gangs are increasingly targeting students from economically weaker backgrounds, offering quick money in exchange for logistical support.

“We are witnessing a disturbing trend where educated youth are getting radicalised or lured into crime networks. We are coordinating with universities to identify vulnerable individuals and implement preventive interventions,” police officials said.