Punjab police busts inter-state gang of drug peddlers, seized 3 kg opium

Phagwara (Punjab): Police on Sunday claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of drug peddlers by arresting two of its members, including the kingpin, and seizing 3-kg
opium from them.

The accused were identified as Isham Din, the gang-leader, hailing from Kapurthala district's Kot Karar Khan village and Ragib Ali of Badaun district's Sejaswan village in Uttar Pradesh, Kapurthala SSP Sandeep Sharma said.

The duo was arrested at a special 'naka' (checkpoint), which was set up after a tip-off, at Pir Purania Chowk near Rampur Sunra village, he said, adding they were coming on a stolen motorcycle.

They were searched in the presence of DSP Dev Dutt Sharma and 3-kg opium was seized from their possession, he said. They had brought the opium from Amla in Bareili and were going to supply it to someone in Kapurthala or Kartarpur area, the SSP said.

Phagwara SP Harwinder Singh Sandhu said Din had earlier been arrested with 35 bags of poppy husk and had served a 10-year jail term. They have been arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the SSP
said.

Meanwhile, police arrested two members of an inter-district criminal gang and recovered eight stolen two-wheelers. The gang's kingpin, Akashdeep alias Golu, from Chahal Nagar and Hira Singh of Mansa Devi Nagar have been arrested, the SSP said.

They have been booked under sections 379 (punishment for theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of IPC, the officer said.