Smugglers running drug biz from jails, says Amritsar district’s top cop

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 5

A week-long drive against drug peddlers launched by the city police have led to the seizure of nearly 3-kg heroin.

The investigations carried out in these cases revealed that the drug rackets were being run by the smugglers lodged in different jails.

Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations) Mukhinder Singh Bhullar said during the week long drive, the city police arrested 47 persons besides eight proclaimed offenders wanted in drug peddling.

A total 2.81 kg of heroin, 1.2-kg opium and 6,349 sedative pills besides Rs 1.12 lakh drug money were confiscated during the period.

Among the prominent smugglers nabbed by the police, included Lovepreet Singh, alias Prince alias Ganja of Guru Nanak Colony, Shiva Nashy of Gawan Mandi, Didar Singh of Gumtala Road, Simran Singh, alias Bagga of Fullarwal in Gurdaspur, Shamsher Singh of Gumanpura, Kanwaljot Singh of Tungpai, Batala Road, Varinder, alias Shelly of Chheharta, Seema of Ishwar Nagar, Germanjit Singh of Gohalwarh village in Tarn Taran and Yadwinder Singh Taju of Mohkampura.

The Police Commissioner said the police were in the process of identifying the properties of as many as 60 proclaimed offenders in various drug-related cases.

Following verifications, these properties would be frozen as per the procedure.

Bhullar said that one of the proclaimed offenders identified as Jatinder Kumar of the Krishna Nagar area here, was hiding in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five years. “His preliminary interrogation revealed his connection with Pakistan-based smugglers across the international border. He along with his Pakistan-based accomplices were trying to push in drugs and sell the same in J&K,” he said.

The interrogation of these drug peddlers held in past week had links with notorious smugglers lodged in various jails. These smugglers, having links with Pakistani smugglers, were running their networks from jail with impunity. These smugglers (lodged in jails) would be brought into custody for further detailed investigations, he added.

Meanwhile, the Special Task Force also seized 1.455 kg of heroin and arrested nine alleged drug peddlers during the week.

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