Drug peddler’s house razed by panchayat department, police

The panchayat department along with the Amritsar rural police demolished the house of an alleged drug peddler, identified as Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Bhure Gill village falling under Ramdas police station here on Thursday.

Gagandeep had six criminal cases, including those of drug peddling, against him at various places in Punjab. He remained in Muktsar jail and had come out on bail last year. He was currently absconding, said police officials.

Aditya Warrior, Superintendent of Police (Investigations), said that the village panchayat led by the Sarpanch had passed a resolution against Gagandeep who had constructed an illegal house on panchayat land. They had written to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) seeking help to remove encroachment from the land.

“After following due legal procedure and conducting investigations, the police along with BDPO Pawan Kumar and other panchayat department officials, had demolished the house of Gagandeep," said Warrior while adding that he has been on the run while his family members had also gone underground. The land was later handed over to the village panchayat.

Maninder Singh, SSP Amritsar rural, said Gagandeep Singh was a listed drug peddler. He had constructed the house with his money earned through drug trafficking. He warned those involved in illegal drug trade and said the police have a policy of zero-tolerance against them and that stern action would continue against them in future also.

Amritsar