After Punjab Police tip-off, ATS Gujarat seizes 75 kg heroin
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Jul, 2022 10:37 AM
Chandigarh, July 12 (IANS) Following specific intelligence inputs regarding the smuggling of heroin from the UAE to Punjab, the Punjab Police in a joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and central agencies recovered 75 kg heroin from a container at the Mundra Port in Gujarat, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said here on Tuesday.
The contraband was concealed in a container of unstitched clothes using a cardboard pipe which was further camouflaged by an oversized plastic pipe.
The container, which was loaded from the Jebel Ali port in the UAE, was booked by an importer from Malerkotla in Punjab.
The DGP said that as the link of the container has been established with Punjab, the consignment seems to be routed to some other place via Punjab.
"The Punjab part is being explored and investigated," he added.
The recovery comes as a major success amid the ongoing war against drugs launched on the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The DGP said following inputs, Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of S.A.S. Nagar had sent teams to Gujarat who were deputed at the Mundra Port.
"In coordination with the central agencies and ATS Gujarat, searches were conducted at the Mundra Port with the help of Customs," he said, adding that after following due procedure and documentation, the container was opened, leading to the recovery of a big haul of 75 kg heroin.
Following the NDPS Act guidelines, the consignment was opened in the presence of Customs officials and the local magistrate.
To ascertain backward and forward linkages, some suspected persons from Malerkotla and Ludhiana found to be linked with this import of consignment have been called for questioning by the district police.
The accused was identified as Sidhesh Hiraman Kamle, alias Mahakaal. "He was arrested in a joint operation conducted by a team of Special Cell and Maharashtra Police," Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, H.S. Dhaliwal, said.
Those arrested have been identified as Sandeep Singh, alias Kekda of Sirsa, Haryana; Manpreet Singh, alias Manna of Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda; Manpreet Bhau of Dhaipai, Faridkot; Saraj Mintu of Dode Kalsia village, Amritsar; Prabhdeep Sidhu, alias Pabbi of Takhat-Mall, Haryana; Monu Dagar of Rewli village in Sonipat, Haryana; Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb, both residents of Fatehabad, Haryana.
Acting on the interrogation of earlier arrested Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Guramanpreet Singh and contractor Hummy, the police took Dharamsot into custody for the wrongdoings in the Forest Department.
The Chief Minister's Office said the Cabinet gave the nod for promulgation of the session from June 24 with obituary references and motion of thanks on the Governor's Address, followed by a discussion on it.
"The passing away of such a promising life is very saddening and unfortunate. As a mother myself I can feel the pain and anguish of the parents and today, I have come here to share their pain," she said while interacting with the mediapersons.
Special Judge Anil Antil of Rouse Avenue Court noted that the accused Ankur Aggarwal along with his family had absconded and concealed himself for about 15 years in Canada and even after coming to India, he remained elusive for about three years or so.
