3 contacts of Punjab-based drug smugglers arrested

Abohar/Sriganganagar, Feb 14

The Sriganganagar police have arrested three suspects, who owned agricultural land near the fencing, for their alleged role in drug smuggling from across the border on the night of February 7-8 in the Hindumalkot police station area.

Helped smuggle 5-kg heroin

• On February 7, four Punjab smugglers reached the suspects’ fields at Hindumalkot to collect a drug consignment from Pak smugglers
• As Pak smugglers threw heroin packets from across the border, BSF personnel got sniff of it. The four allegedly fled with 5-kg heroin from the spot

The police claimed at least four suspected smugglers from Ferozepur and Fazilka districts had fled with 5-kg heroin. A packet containing 1-kg heroin was found at the spot. Police and intelligence agencies were in touch with the Punjab Police to arrest the smugglers based in the state.

SP Rajan Dushyant said Lakhwinder Singh (23) and his brother Satnam Singh (20) of border village Dullapur Keri and Balwinder Singh of Pakki village had been arrested.

Satnam and Lakhwinder owned agricultural land near BSF’s Madanlal outpost. This land was 150 yards behind the zero line.

Investigation indicated Lakhwinder facilitated the visit of smugglers from Punjab to his fields. Footage of the location of the International Border was also made available to them for easy access to Pakistan smugglers to take heroin consignments.

DSP (Rural) Bhanwer Lal Meghwal said two months ago, Balwinder had sent their farm location through WhatsApp to the Punjab smugglers. The two were reportedly paid Rs 20,000. After successful drug delivery, the two were to receive a large amount from the Punjab-based smugglers.

On February 7-8, BSF personnel posted at the Madanlal outpost noticed some suspicious movement across the border. On being challenged, two Pakistani men fired two rounds and fled. BSF jawans retaliated but there were no casualties. Later, a packet containing 1.4-kg heroin, worth Rs 5 crore in the international market, was found near the fencing. — OC