Punjab police has claimed of neutralising a trans-borders heroin smuggling racket with the arrest of eight persons and seizure of two kg heroin among other things.Besides, two Pakistani sim cards , one Pakistani mobile phone, 24 gold biscuits (333 gms), two small arms and black colour Tata safari SUV have been recovered in furtherance of case registered on March 5 at police station Sadar Jalalabad.
Those arrested include Gurdev Singh alias Chairman from Bholath in Kapurthala district, Gurdev Chand from Guru Har Sahai in Ferozepur district, Manjit Singh from Bholath, Subhash from Guru Har Sahai, Harbans Singh from Jalalabad in Fazilka district, Sonia Dancer from Kapurthala city, Sandeep alias Shanty from Jalalabad city, and Nirmal Singh alias Nimma from Jalalabad city.
The police spokesperson said that the racket’s mastermind is Gurdev Singh, who is ex-chairman of Dhilwan Market Committee and a close associate of Congress leader and former MlA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Spokesperson said that both Gurdev Singh and Khaira have spoken telephonically to each other on 78 occasions in past 11 months.
“Sensing that police had become aware of his activities, Gurdev Singh switched off his mobile on Feb 28, 2015. However, he remained in touch with Khaira through his PSO Joga Singh…Gurdev Singh has spoken to Khaira six times from Feb 28 to March 4 from his driver (Manjit ’s) number on Khaira’s PSO Joga Singh's mobile number,” he said.
The police informed that Gurdev Singh’s sister, who is in UK, has also contacted Khaira several times in last few days. “During the investigations, Gurdev Singh revealed that his sister assured him that Khaira would help him in this matter. She gave him the mobile number of Khaira's PSO Joga Singh and instructed him to speak to Khaira on his PSO's number only,” he said.
Gurdev Singh disclosed that Khaira had assured him to help him in resolving the matter and in furtherance thereof Khaira pleaded for Gurdev Singh with DIG (Ferozepur Range) and IGP (Bathinda Zone) on March 4.
Spokesperson said that IGP (Bathinda Zone) has constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to supervise the investigation of the case and to find out the complicity of all concerned.
“It would also look in to its past activities before October 2014, when he had started smuggling of drugs on large scale. The SIT is headed by DIG (Ferozepur Range) and has Fazilka SSP and Fazilka SP (detective) as its members,” he said.