Gangster Sagar Newton’s arrest shows chinks in jail security
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 21
The arrest of Category-A gangster Sagar Newton by the Ludhiana police has exposed the chinks in jail security system of Punjab once again. Alleged gangster Newton who is facing 18 cases of murder, attempt to murder, drugs smuggling, dacoity, robbery and arms smuggling was arrested by the police from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh on August 19. The interrogation of Newton led to the revelation that while he was on the run, he was constantly in touch with dreaded gangster Butta Khan alias Bagga Khan who is also facing dozens of cases including attempt to murder, robberies, drugs smuggling, arms smuggling etc.
Bagga Khan is also known as a big drug smuggler and arms supplier of Punjab. When Bagga was lodged in Amritsar jail in 2019, he met a smuggler who further established his contacts with Tariq Ahmed of Dubai. In connivance with Tariq, while in jail, Bagga had ordered 22 kg of heroin from Himachal, which was sent to Saharanpur. Eight months ago, in 2023, Khanna police had also brought Bagga for questioning in connection with the supply of arms. Now, he is lodged in a jail in Punjab.
Police officials privy to the investigation said that that during questioning of gangster Newton, he confessed to having contacts with Bagga Khan who is lodged in jail. This exposed the chinks in security system in jail because Bagga could be using mobile phone inside the jail. Ludhiana police is also alerting the jail officials concerned regarding the development.
“A few days back, Ludhiana police nabbed one Himanshu from whom an illegal pistol of .32 bore was recovered. The accused is an associate of gangster Newton and was in regular touch with him. It could be possible that Himanshu might be dealing in the supply of illegal weapons at the direction of Newton and a major racket of illegal weapons supply operated by Bagga Khan from jail could be busted during further interrogation. The police will also bring Bagga Khan on production warrant to break the entire network being run from jail with the help of Newton,” officials added.
