Police bust drug, liquor and arms racket during patrolling
In a series of coordinated patrols and naka-bandi operations carried out by district police teams, several cases under the NDPS Act, Excise Act and Arms Act have been registered, leading to the arrest of multiple accused and recovery of narcotics, intoxicant tablets, illicit liquor and illegal weapons.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kapurthala Gaurav Toora IPS told media here last night that during routine patrol and search operations aimed at curbing drug trafficking and other criminal activities, a police party intercepted a suspect near the boundary wall of a government school at New Pind Bhatte. On noticing the police presence, the individual attempted to flee and discarded a polythene packet. Upon search, 7 grams of heroin were recovered from the packet. The accused was arrested and a case under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source and supply chain of the contraband.
SSP Toora told that in another incident, police teams on patrol near Bahiyan Farm Chowk observed a young man and a woman behaving suspiciously. On seeing the police, both attempted to escape and threw separate polythene packets into roadside grass. With the assistance of accompanying staff, both were apprehended. Upon checking the discarded packets, police recovered a total of 310 loose intoxicant tablets—220 from the possession of the male accused identified as Ajay Kumar @ Tohri resident of labor colony Phagwara and 90 from the female accused identified as Shikha Sharma@ Muskan of Palampur (HP). Both tablets were found unmarked. A case under Sections 20, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered, and the accused were taken into custody.
SSP told that meanwhile, during another patrol operation near Kusth Ashram, police intercepted an individual who tried to change direction and flee on seeing the police party. A search led to the recovery of 220 grams of charas. The accused identified as Darshan Singh resident of Mehtabgarh near Kapurthala was arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.
He told that in separate action under the Excise Act, police received reliable information regarding the illegal sale of liquor in village Badalpur. Acting swiftly, the police conducted a raid and recovered 12 bottles (9,000 ml) of Punjab First Choice brand liquor. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act was registered. The accused was arrested and later released on bail as per legal provisions.
SSP Toora told that additionally, in a preventive operation near Baba Anandpur Academy, police received a tip-off regarding two individuals identified as Jagtar Singh of Moga and Akaash Singh of Sultanpur Lodhi allegedly planning a criminal act while carrying illegal firearms in an I-20 car. Acting on the information, the police conducted a raid and apprehended both suspects. During the search, a country-made pistol of .32 bore, along with two magazines and four live cartridges, was recovered. The vehicle used by the accused was also seized. A case under the Arms Act was registered and further investigation is ongoing.
