https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Breaking the Chain: Women Unite Against Illegal Weapons in Punjab

SSP Amneet Kondal and SP Pragya Jain, both women, have defied gender stereotypes and emerged as strong leaders in the fight against illegal weapons in Punjab. Their dedication and vigilance have led to a significant increase in recoveries, highlighting the vital role women play in law enforcement and community safety. The efforts of Khanna Police have revealed the global nature of the illegal arms trade.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The quiet town of Khanna in Punjab was grappling with a dark reality – a surge in illegal weapons entering its streets. In just eight months in of this year, the police had seized a staggering 98 pistols, a number equal to the total recoveries made in the past four years combined. The situation was dire, but amidst the challenges, a pair of resilient women emerged as a beacon of hope, determined to put an end to the menace.

The women in question are SSP Amneet Kondal and SP Pragya Jain, who are smashing stereotypes with this endeavour.

Indian Masterminds exclusively spoke with the two officers to know more about their effort.

A RISING THREAT, A DETERMINED RESPONSE

With fierce women handling the charges of both SSP and SP of Khanna Police, the importance of safeguarding the community by seizing illegal arms from across the region was understood well by the police and quick action against the cause has brought in heaps of success.

Most of the recovered weapons were seized from check posts on the Delhi-Ludhiana National Highway, the lifeline connecting various parts of the state and neighboring regions. Khanna Police, under IPS Kondal and Jain’s leadership, worked tirelessly at these checkpoints, intercepting illegal weapon shipments. Their dedication and vigilance led to a significant increase in recoveries this year.

“We have two hi-tech nakas in Khanna involved in in-depth checking of vehicles moving through the highway. We start from the check points, and then gradually the CIA (Crime Investigation Agency) takes over. We then do the backward linkages of all these cases which has led to a very big haul of not only weapons but also drugs,” Ms. Kondal told Indian Masterminds.

INVESTIGATION

Reminiscing an incident, the SSP shared the case of a group of 4-5 boys travelling with weapons who were caught by the naka police. Upon further investigation, she came to know that the boys had backward linkages with a big gangster, and these young boys were mere foot soldiers with no criminal record of their own.

“They were forced into this by the gangster and were being extorted at their hands. Had they not agreed to do their dirty work, they would have been murdered. We rescued the boys and raised awareness regarding how young teenagers are being lured into the profession in exchange for some money, which ultimately leads to bigger and worse consequences.”

CONDITION TODAY

According to the officers, from January this year till now, approximately 98 arms have been seized by the Khanna Police which has been the highest in last four years combined.

The officer has also given her personal number to the public who can call or text her anytime and give her updates or leads on arms smuggling happening in the place.

“I keep the information anonymous and get it verified from my core team of people. Multiple times, these leads have also led us to drugs and weapons. This has also strengthened community policing for us as the public trusts us with their identity and information,” shared Ms. Kondal.

HANDLING LAW AND ORDER

According to Ms. Jain, Khanna Police has not only been able to seize the arms and bring peace, but through this, they have also been able to handle major law and order problems in the state, including the prevention of target killings of prominent personalities in the state.

Another feather in their cap is that during the Amritpal Singh operation, Ms. Jain and Ms. Kondal’s team were able to not only nab an important member of his group called Tejender Gor Khan alias Baba but were able to acquire quite incriminating materials regarding weapons and firing ranges through his phone, which helped them immensely.

Shattering the notion that this issue was confined to local criminals, Khanna Police unearthed international connections. In a significant breakthrough, they arrested members of two US-based gangs and recovered weapon modules. The involvement of global networks highlighted the need for a coordinated international effort to curb the illegal arms trade.

“We were able to bust several international gangster modules such as Amritpal Module, Luvjeet module, Darban Kalo, Sandeep, etc. They are quite infamous and notorious international criminals. With just a team of 10-12 members, working in a small district, we are happy to have successfully nabbed them,” Ms. Jain told Indian Masterminds.

NABBING WEAPON MANUFACTURERS

The officers and their team have also successfully nabbed several weapon manufacturers who are infamous for making illegal weapons from scratch and then selling it across the country.

“We have led several operations in MP, UP, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana. Our teams have gone there and nabbed criminals from all across North India. We have set into motion a lot of preventive steps, under the guidance of the SSP and DGP,” shared Ms. Jain.

SOCIAL MEDIA: A NEW BATTLEGROUND

The rise of illegal weapons was not just a physical battle but also a digital one. The women officers of Khanna recognized the role of social media platforms, especially Instagram, in luring unsuspecting individuals into this dangerous world. SSP Kondal has advised parents to monitor their children’s online activities, emphasizing prevention as a key strategy.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Zero Ka Dum
BPCL Launches ‘Zero Ka Dum’ Certification Drive, Redefines Standards in Operational Excellence
Rajasthan teenager impersonation scam
Teen Cyber Conman Exposed: 17 Year Old JCB Operator Arrested for Creating 200+ Fake IAS, IPS Profiles Across India
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case
CBI Widens Net: Five IPS Officers Face Questioning in Ropar DIG Bhullar's ₹8 Lakh Bribery Scandal
Mohammad Mustafa FIR case
We Will Face the Law”: Baseless, Truth Will Emerge - Ex-DGP Mohammad Mustafa Responds to Allegations in Son’s Death
Mohammad Mustafa Aqil Akhtar death case
DGP Story: Who Is Mohammad Mustafa, the Ex-IPS Officer Accused in His Son’s Mysterious Death?
India forest area ranking 2025
India Climbs to 9th Position Globally in Forest Area, Retains 3rd Spot in Annual Forest Gain: FAO Report
India renewable energy transition 2030
India Reframes Renewable Revolution: From Rapid Growth to System Strength for Viksit Bharat, MNRE Highlights Stable, Dispatchable Energy Transition by 2030
Mohammad Mustafa Aqil Akhtar death case
Murder, Conspiracy Alleged in Mysterious Death of Ex-DGP’s Son; FIR Registered Against Former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa, Wife — Full Case Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Zero Ka Dum
BPCL Launches ‘Zero Ka Dum’ Certification Drive, Redefines Standards in Operational Excellence
Rajasthan teenager impersonation scam
Teen Cyber Conman Exposed: 17 Year Old JCB Operator Arrested for Creating 200+ Fake IAS, IPS Profiles Across India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT