Chased, smuggler jumps into drain

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, July 6

An alleged drug smuggler, Pardeep Singh (27), died after he reportedly fell into a drain located on the outskirts of Naurshehra Dhalla village.

He was allegedly being chased by a police team as he was trying to evade arrest. His brother Harbir Singh was arrested by the Fazilka police yesterday in connection with cross-border smuggling case wherein a BSF constable was also arrested.

The deceased’s family members and villagers held a protest outside the Sarai Amanat Khan police station. They demanded registration of a case against the policemen allegedly responsible for Pardeep’s death. His family members alleged the police team returned from the spot without rescuing him while they thought that he had been arrested. The incident came to light when a villager spotted the body in the drain this morning.

Senior police officers, including Harwinder Singh Sandhu, SP (Headquarters), and Jagmohan Singh, SP (Detective), reached the police station and tried to pacify the agitators. They assured them of a thorough probe. The protester, however, lifted the dharna only after the registration of a case of culpable homicide against three policemen, Resham Singh, Dhanwant Singh and Pooran Singh, who were part of the raiding police team.

A police official said that Pardeep’s brother Harbir Singh along a BSF constable and two others was arrested by Fazilka police in connection with the smuggling of 163 kg heroin from Pakistan.

A police team raided Harbir’s residence hoping for more seizure of drugs. On seeing the police, Pardeep fled. He was recently released on bail in an NDPScase. The police chased him, but he reportedly jumped into a drain to evade his arrest. The policemen returned after failing to locate him.