ANTF seizes 1.6 kg heroin, drug peddler dies as police fire in retaliation

The police claimed to have recovered 1.6 kg of heroin besides a pistol and a Swift car from a drug peddler during an action undertaken by the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Ferozepur, late on Thursday evening here.

However, the drug peddler facing at least 24 cases, was neutralised in the firing by a police personnel in self-defence, on being attacked by the accused, identified as Raj Kumar Raju of Khurshaid Pura village.

His accomplice, later identified from his ID left behind in the vehicle as Dharvinder Singh of Salempura, was reported to have fled from the scene.

DIG, Ludhiana, Nilambari Jagdale informed that sleuths of the Anti Narcotics Task Force, Ferozepur, had laid a trap to nab two notorious drug peddlers, known as big fish for their illicit trade through a decoy customer (senior constable Sukhdeep Singh) on Thursday evening.

“According to a predetermined programme, Sukhdeep Singh was supposed to act as a decoy customer to receive a consignment of 2 kg heroin on payment of Rs 15 lakh. It was during a scuffle when Sukhdeep Singh closed the window of his vehicle that the accused Raj Kumar Raju fired at him with the intention to kill,” said DIG Jagdale, adding that Raj Kumar Raju received a bullet in his chest when Sukhdeep Singh fired in self-defence. Raj Kumar Raju was later declared dead at the Civil Hospital.

Further investigations revealed that the consignment of the heroin weighed 1.634 kg. The police also recovered a live cartridge and a pistol used in crime besides the Swift car bearing the number plate Punjab 65 W 9393. The absconding accomplice of the deceased peddler was identified as Dharvinder Singh on the basis of documents recovered from the vehicle.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jagraon, Inderjit Singh Boparai said a police force led by SHO City, Jagraon, had initiated a probe into the sequence of events leading to the incident after registering an FIR under relevant sections of the BNS, Arms Act and NDPS Act.

Ludhiana