E-Paper
Drug racket busted, STF nabs four with 2kg heroin in Ludhiana
The STF established a checkpoint at Machhiwara road towards Pratapgarh Chowk; the accused were travelling in a car which was stopped by the STF officials for checking and 2.230 kg heroin was found under the drivers’ seat
The special task force (STF), Ludhiana, on Friday arrested four men for alleged drug peddling and recovered 2.230 kg heroin from their possession.
According to the STF officials, the recovered heroin costs ₹11 crore in the international market.
The drug peddling racket was being run by B category gangster Pankaj Rajput, who is already wanted by the police.
The arrested accused have been identified as Satinder Singh Shinda, 40, of Koom Kalan village, Manpritpal Singh Pratty, 25, of Fortune City of Jamalpur area, Mohit Saini, 22, of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony of Moti Nagar and Navpreet Singh Shubham, 23, of Jamalpur. The STF also nominated Pankaj Rajput and his another aide named Rocky in the FIR.
Inspector Harbans Singh, incharge at STF Ludhiana, said that the STF received a tip-off that the accused were travelling from Koom Kalan side towards Bhaini Sahib and Katani Kalan to supply drugs among the addicts.
The STF established a checkpoint at Machhiwara Road towards Pratapgarh Chowk. The accused were travelling in a car which was stopped by the STF officials for checking and 2.230 kg heroin was found under the drivers’ seat.
The inspector said that Pratty is a member of the notorious Puneet Bains gang of Ludhiana. He is already facing trial in criminal cases including assault, attempt to murder, firing, drug peddling and under the Arms Act.
Pratty had come out on bail around one year ago. He is also running a business of construction material and was into drug peddling for making easy money.
Mohit Saini also has over six FIRs against him, including drug peddling, attempt to murder and under the Arms Act, while Navpreet has over six cases lodged against him.
Satinder has been facing three FIRs including assault and drug peddling. Mohit’s brother Naveen Saini was also arrested by the STF for smuggling intoxicant pills. He was given bail on March 9.
After coming out on bail, Naveen along with his brother Mohit, Pratty and another accused Rohit alias Ravi had opened fire at a man named Harwinder Singh in Moti Nagar area on March 11.
The Inspector said that Pankaj Rajput is running the nexus using an international Whatsapp number. Rajput had sent a person named Rocky to hand over heroin to the accused. A hunt is on for the arrest of Rajput and Rocky.
