Punjab Police arrested 70 drug smugglers on Monday, including two caught after a gunfight, as part of its ongoing anti-drug drive. With these arrests, the total number of drug smugglers caught in the last three days has reached 403, officials said.
During the operation, police seized 4.63 kg of heroin, 500 grams of ganja, 100 grams of opium, 1,548 drug tablets, and ₹1.32 lakh in cash from the smugglers.
Last week, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann set a three-month deadline to make the state drug-free. To oversee the efforts, the government has also formed a five-member committee to monitor the crackdown. Special DGP Arpit Shukla reported that Amritsar Rural Police arrested Jagtar Singh and Angrez Singh, recovering 1 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) and ₹1.4 lakh in cash from them.
While in police custody, Jagtar Singh attempted to escape near Defence Drain, Attari, prompting police to fire at him, injuring his right leg. He was recaptured and provided medical treatment.
In another case, Amritsar Police arrested Sahil alias Neela, a notorious drug smuggler, after a brief gunfight near Palm Garden Colony. When police chased him, he opened fire, leading to retaliation.
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A .32 bore pistol was recovered from his possession. The Punjab government is implementing a three-step plan to tackle drug abuse, focusing on enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention.
As part of the crackdown, police also conducted search operations in eight jails, including Central Jail Patiala, New Jail Nabha, Open Jail Nabha, and district jails in Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Mansa, and Rupnagar, to detect any illegal activities.
Special DGP Shukla said that police teams thoroughly searched barracks, kitchens, and toilets to ensure no smuggling is happening inside. The anti-drug drive will continue as Punjab Police intensifies efforts to eliminate drug trafficking in the state.
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