'Drug smuggler' held after encounter, heroin seized

The special cell of the Commissionerate Police arrested a 'drug smuggler' after a dramatic encounter in the Basti Guzan area on Wednesday evening.

The accused, identified as Sandeep, alias Gini, of Jalandhar, was found in possession of 20 gram of heroin.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had laid a trap in the area. Sandeep, who was travelling in a white car, tried to flee on spotting the police. When the police surrounded his vehicle, he allegedly attempted to run over one of the cops. In response, the police opened fire, shooting at the car’s tyre to stop the vehicle.

Witnesses at the scene reported that four or five rounds were fired during the chase. While they claim there were three or four persons in the car, the police confirmed that only Sandeep was there and he had been arrested.

A press card was also recovered from the car, raising further questions.

Jaspal Singh, in-charge of the special cell, confirmed Sandeep’s arrest and the recovery of heroin. He said an FIR was being registered and further investigations were underway. Regarding the press card, Singh said it appeared to belong to someone else but not Sandeep and efforts were on to verify its owner and its presence in the car.