On tip-off from NRI, drug racket busted in Moga; 4 arrested
MOGA : On a tip-off from an NRI, police have busted a drug supply racket operating in the Dala village, around 10km from the district headquarters, with the arrest of the kingpin, Harjinderpal Singh, from the village on Saturday.
Three other accused Satvir Singh, Kiranpreet Singh and Gurlal Singh, also of the village, all between 30-35 were arrested on August 16 (Thursday). Police have recovered 310 grams of narcotics powder, a Toyota Innova car and a bike from Harjinderpal. Contraband tablets were recovered from the other three accused.
“An NRI whose relatives live in Dala village called us last week and said his relatives had been trapped into drug addiction. This person claimed to have reliable information that could lead to the busting of a drug racket,” said a police official, adding that the NRI had requested not to be named.
“We verified the facts. Then, we arrested Satvir, Kiranpreet and Gurlal and recovered contraband tablets from their possession. Their interrogation led us to Harjinderpal, the main supplier. CIA wing inspector Kikkar Singh Bhullar arrested Harjinderpal on Saturday,” the official added.
“Harjinderpal was the mastermind, while others used to identify drug addicts and strike a deal. The drugs were bought from Ludhiana. In a week, drug deals of around ₹60,000 took place in the village. Harjinderpal is also wanted in a drug case registered around a decade ago,” said a senior police official.
“With the arrest of Harjinderpal, we hope to bust the bigger supply chain of drugs and are one step closer to the main suppliers,” hinted the official.
The police plan to get treated the 50-60 drug addicts in the village at the de-addiction centres in the district. Moga SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor said, “We have decided to monitor the village to ensure that we break the supply chain of drugs. We will also hold meetings with youngsters in the village under the state government’s Buddy Programme.”