BATHINDA: In a breakthrough against trans-border smuggling, Punjab Police in a joint operation with central agencies and BSF arrested an Army man and his aide after seizing 29 packets of heroin weighing 31kg from their possession in Fazilka district on Saturday.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the 26-year-old arrested sepoy is posted in Pathankot. He was held along with Paramjeet Singh alias Pamma of Mahalam village of the district when they were trying to escape in a Hyundai Verna. Police have seized the Verna car and a mobile each from the two accused.
The DGP said Fazilka police led by SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area of Sadar Fazilka. “When the Verna was being checked, one of the occupants showed an Indian Army ID card. When police insisted on checking the vehicle, they sped away,” he said, adding that police teams immediately strengthened all naka points and managed to trace the accused at a checkpoint on Gaaganke-Shamsabad Road.
On checking the vehicle, police found the heroin. A case has been registered against the arrested duo under various sections of the NDPS Act at Sadar Fazilka police station.
Ferozepur range DIG Ranjit Singh Dhillon said during preliminary investigation, it has come to the fore that both the accused were escaping the border district after retrieving a consignment of drugs pushed by Pakistan-based smugglers through border fencing with the help of a pipe.