It is a classic case where those entrusted with enforcing the law of the land themselves turn robbers, shaming the police force of Punjab.
The Special Task Force, Punjab on Saturday arrested five police personnel attached with State Counter Intelligence and three private persons who had snatched 300 gm heroin and extorted Rs 8 lakh from a drug trafficker by impersonating as STF unit Fazilka.
Harpreet Singh Sidhu, ADGP-cum-Chief Special Task Force (STF) and ADGP border range said the STF is working earnestly to break the nexus between drug traffickers and police as well as taking stringent action against rogue elements in law enforcement agencies also.
He said Rajinder Singh Sohal, SP, STF, Mohali unit received information on Friday night that a police party comprising personnel from Counter Intelligence, Punjab snatched 300 gm heroin from drug trafficker Narinder Singh and extorted Rs 8 lakh under threat by impersonating as STF unit Fazilka and released him without taking any legal action.
Sidhu informed that the police party comprising Sub Inspector Sushil Kumar, Constable Gagandeep Singh, both posted in Counter Intelligence Sub-Unit Mansa, Head Constable Jarnail Singh and Constable Harjit Singh, both posted in Counter Intelligence, Sub-Unit Sri Mukatsar Sahib and Sub Inspector Sushil Kumar conspired with other police personnel and went to lalru area which is out of their jurisdiction.
“They used their own private cars after changing the number plates and did not inform their senior officers or took permission from them. They stopped the vehicle of Narinder Singh in lalru area posing as a team from ‘STF unit Fazilka’ and took him forcibly towards Fatehgarh Sahib side,” he added.
The STF chief added that these police officials first snatched the heroin and later extorted Rs 8 lakh by forcing him to call his friend in Chandigarh. After getting money and heroin with them, they released Narinder Singh.
He said that along with these police personnel, three other private persons namely Gagandeep Singh Mann of Kharar, Sukhpreet Singh from district Bathinda and Vakil Singh from district Sri Mukatsar Sahib were also involved in committing this crime.
Sidhu said that a case under relevant sections of NDPS Act and IPC has been registered at police station, STF at SAS Nagar against all the accused. During the interrogation, they admitted that they had also sold some heroin.
The STF ADGP informed that Narinder Singh was earlier involved in narcotics peddling and a case under NDPS Act had been registered against him in police station STF SAS Nagar. In this case 550 gm heroin, Rs 4 lakh cash and one Fortuner was also recovered from him.
Sidhu claimed that the case against police personnel signals the intention of the STF to take action against any personnel involved in drug trafficking and related crime.