Drug smuggler’s properties razed

Four unauthorised shops at Baba Deep Singh Nagar were demolished under the state government’s Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign today.

A JCB machine was deployed to bring down the shops located in Street No. 4 during a joint drive conducted by the district administration, the Municipal Corporation and the police. The shops had been illegally constructed on residential plots without the required approval of the MC.

Gurtej Singh, alias Bunty, was a member of the family that owned the shops. He was facing two cases of drug smuggling, the police said.

SP City Palwinder Singh Cheema, who supervised the operation, said, “Those involved in the black trade of drugs will not be spared.” He said Gurtej had illegally constructed the shops on the residential property. He is currently lodged in Patiala jail. The demolition was carried out following a final demolition notice issued by the Municipal Commissioner. The operation was conducted under the supervision of assistant town planners Karanjit Singh and Bikramjit Singh, with cops deployed to maintain law and order.

The SP said Gurtej was booked at the Anaj Mandi police station under various sections of the NDPS Act for smuggling drugs. Another case under Section 22 of the NDPS Act following the recovery of commercial quantity of narcotic pills was registered against him at the Urban Estate police station.