Drug peddlers flee homes in Ludhiana as police undertake massive search operation

Over 400 police personnel posted at various police stations of the region falling under Ludhiana (Rural) Khanna and Malerkotla police districts carried out a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) at localities already identified as hotspots of drug addicts.

Though the exact quantities of drugs and narcotics seized during the operation and number of suspects rounded up was yet to be revealed officially, drug peddlers seemed to be on the run as several suspects had fled after locking their homes and hideouts.

Special teams of cops were assigned localities for cordon and search operation against drug peddlers and their sympathisers by Ludhiana (Rural) SSP Ankur Gupta, Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav and Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh from their respective headquarters on Sunday morning.

Gagan Ajit said that around 200 police personnel had conducted CASO operations at various localities under the supervision of IGP Baljot Singh Rathor on Sunday. SP (D) Satpal Sharma, SP Rajan Sharma, DSP (S) Ranjit Singh Bains, DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu and DSP Kuldeep Singh led the teams conducting searches at hotspots falling under Ahmedgarh, Amargarh and Malerkotla subdivisions.

“Though we had already been conducting intensive combing and search operation in all sensitive areas under the ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’ campaign, we held a massive one in compliance with the orders of DGP Gaurav Yadav,” said Gagan Ajit. He acknowledged that many families suspected to be involved in illicit trade of drugs had fled after locking their houses today. The SSP claimed that the police had already arrested certain notorious drug peddlers and seized drugs and narcotics.

SSP Gupta said contingents of police personnel, each led by DSPs, at Jagraon, Raikot, Mullanpur Dakha, along with DSP (D) Inderjit Singh Boparai, had conducted coercive operation under the ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’ campaign in compliance with the orders of the Chief Minister and DGP Gaurav Yadav.

“Besides tightening the noose around notorious drug peddlers, we have also identified some drug addicts who will be admitted at the de-addiction centres for rehabilitation,” said Gupta.

Similar operations were held under the supervision of SSP Yadav at various hotspots falling under the jurisdiction of DSP Khanna Amritpal Singh Bhatti and DSP Payal Hemant Malhotra, wherein drug peddlers and addicts were rounded up for taking further action against them.