13 KG CONTRABAND SEIZED FROM DUO IN A JOINT OPERATION WITH THE BSF, HUNT LAUNCHED FOR THEIR 3RD ACCOMPLICE
CHANDIGARH: In an intelligence led operation, the Punjab Police on Friday arrested two Pakistan-backed drug smugglers in Khem Karan sector of Tarn Taran along the International Border, and seized 13 kg heroin consignment from them. A manhunt has been launched for their third accomplice.
The arrest of Jora Singh, and his associate Ranjit Singh @ Rana Singh, who were planning to deliver the consignment to drug syndicates and suppliers across the state, has exposed the nexus between drug smugglers operating in Punjab and their handlers in Pakistan, DGP Dinkar Gupta said.
The entire operation was carried out by a team led by Dhruman Nimbale, SSP Tarn Taran, with SP/Narcotics, DSP/Bhikhiwind, I/C Narcotics, SHO Khem Karan, and SHO Sarai Amant Khan its members. An FIR No. 141, dated 24-09-2020, u/s 21, 29 NDPS Act, PS Khem Karan has been registered in this case.
Specific information was received by Tarn Taran police about Jora Singh s/o Bagicha Singh r/o Mahedipur, P.S Khem Karan, after which his activities were brought under watch. Currently on bail since March 2020, he was also apprehended by security agencies near the IB for suspicious activities in August 2019. Four FIRs are already registered against him for drug smuggling, in which huge quantity of narcotic substance was recovered. He had also amassed a number of properties without any legal source of income.
Gupta said that initial investigations had revealed that Jora Singh, along with his two associates Pawandeep Singh & Ranjit Singh @ Rana Singh, was in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and was trying to procure a heroin consignment from the Pakistan side into the area of BOP/Rattoke, BSF (PS Khem Karan). They had also conducted recce near the IB, Village Rattoke, PS Khem Karan.
During investigations, Ranjit Singh @ Rana Singh r/o Havelian, PS Sarai Amanat Khan (Tarn Taran), admitted that he had organized the delivery of a heroin consignment that was scheduled to arrive in the area of BOP Rattoke from Pakistan. The BSF was contacted immediately and taken into the loop and the heroin recovery was made from about 50 metres from the zero line of Indo-Pak border.
Ranjit Singh @ Rana Singh s/o Harnam r/o Sarai Amanat Khan has three FIRs registered against him and he was also out on bail since 14-10-2014. There are two FIRs also already against Pawandeep Singh S/o Surinder Singh r/o Sidhwan, PS Khalra for his involvement in drug trafficking and he was out on bail since 20-02-2018.