War against drugs: Police take bulldozer action against two ‘drug peddlers’, raze properties

The bulldozer action was taken in Amritsar with the municipal corporation along with Punjab Police razing two properties allegedly belonging to drug traffickers in localities infamous for rampant drug abuse – Bharariwal near Angarh and Maqboolpura area — here on Thursday.

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Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar supervised the two operations. This was the first operation carried out in Amritsar though similar action is being taken in other parts of the border state for the past few days.

The demolition drive was part of the crackdown against drug trafficking launched by the Punjab Government wherein it made a huge seizure of drugs, especially in Amritsar, which has turned out to be a major transit point as far as smuggling of drugs from Indo-Pak border is concerned.

The two properties demolished — a two-storey residential complex and a godown — belong to two alleged drug peddlers, identified as Sandeep Singh alias Sonu and Gurmeet Singh. First, the municipal corporation under the security of Punjab Police bulldozed the house of Sandeep Singh at Bharariwal village followed by the second operation in Maqboolpura area where the godown owned by Gurmeet was razed.

Sandeep Singh originally hailed from Naushehra Dhalla village located near the Indo-Pak border falling under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station in Tarn Taran. He faced four cases under the NDPS Act – three at Sarai Amanat Khan and one by the Mohali Anti-Narcotics Task Force. Three cases were registered against Gurmeet Singh.

Civic body authorities pasted a notice at the two structures on February 12 over various violations giving a three-day’s time seeking clarifications and response from the owners. After getting no response, MC officials pasted the final order of demolition on February 18.

The Police Commissioner said these buildings were constructed with the help of ill-gotten money. The demolition of these structures was part of the anti-drug drive against traffickers launched by the Punjab Government. He said the municipal corporation had identified these properties and issued demolition orders after following the due procedures and they had sought security from the police for this. He appealed to those involved in the illegal trade that they should surrender and those who are addicts should get rehabilitation.

While warning the drug traffickers, MLA Jeevanjot Kaur said the AAP government has made it clear abundantly that they must either leave the illegal business or leave Punjab. She said she learnt that Gurmeet Singh had around nine houses in the area while his children were abroad. She said due action would be taken against him in the future.