30 marla panchayat land illegally occupied by drug smuggler freed

The Bilga police under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign on Saturday got a property, illegally occupied by a drug smuggler demolished and a house sealed, in Jalandhar. The house was handed over to the BDPO office.

Amidst huge force deployment, the Bilga police used a JCB machine to raze construction on the 30 marla panchayat land at Burj Husan village, illegally occupied by drug smuggler Surinder Singh, alias Shinda, resident of the same village.

Notably, the drug smuggler had constructed a double storey house on the land, which the police said was used by him for pursuing drug trade.

Shinda has six cases registered against him including three under the NDPS Act. He is at present serving sentence at the Kapurthala jail.

After removal of constructions, the police handed over the house to the BDPO in presence of Nurmahal Naib Tehsildar.

The police said out of six cases against Shinda — three were registered under the NDPS Act and three for indulging in fights and clashes. In December 2023, he was caught with 1 kg heroin, 144 kg poppy husk, Rs 28,40,000 drug money and one pistol. He opened fire at the police party which had gone to arrest him.

The operation at the Burj Hasan village was conducted on the directions of Jalandhar SSP (Rural) Harvinder Singh Virk.

Sarwan Singh Bal, DSP, Phillaur, said, “A team led by Inspector Palwinder Singh, in-charge Bilga police station, today freed 30 marla land occupied by drug smuggler Surinder Singh Shinda. His house has been frozen as part of the proceedings of the NDPS Act cases registered against him. Partial encroachments on his 30 marla property have been demolished. The main house has been sealed. The police team handed over the property to the BDPO. More drives under the campaign will continue in the area.”

Jalandhar