In an operation against drug trafficking, the counter-intelligence wing of Bathinda police has arrested three drug peddlers who were allegedly involved in smuggling for the past several years. The police recovered 2 quintal of poppy husk from the three suspects who have been identified as Gurcharan Singh and Sarabjit Singh of Barnala and Amandeep Singh of Ludhiana. They were allegedly bringing the contraband in a truck and have admitted to bringing poppy husk from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to supply it in different parts of Punjab.

IGP, counter-intelligence, Jatindra Jain said: "Assistant inspector general of police (CI) Ajay Maluja carried out the operation and the suspects were caught near the Doomwali barrier after getting clearance from the barrier."

They admitted to have brought the contraband from Madhya Pradesh in a truck and purchased each bag for Rs. 15,000. They planned to sell it at Rs. 48,000 per 50 kg, Jain said.

"On the New Year eve, we recovered 60 bags of poppy husk. In most cases, inter-state smugglers use the modified Canters and other vehicles to smuggle drugs. Several operations to counter drug trafficking have been successful at the Doomwali barrier and most of the poppy husk is brought either from Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan."