Heroin seizure: Punjab Police ASI dismissed

Punjab Police have dismissed its assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ranjit Singh for his alleged involvement in the 23-kg heroin seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from a Pakistani goods train recently.

Punjab Police have dismissed its assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ranjit Singh for his alleged involvement in the 23-kg heroin seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from a Pakistani goods train recently.

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On October 20, the DRI seized 23 packets from the train and also arrested porter Puran Singh of Modhe village from the Amritsar rail cargo. The heroin was hidden in cement bags that came from Pakistan.

During questioning, Puran named ASI Ranjit Singh for his involvement in smuggling.

The DRI searched the house of the ASI, who also hails from Modhe. By that time, the ASI was on the run and was missing from the duty in Amritsar. The ASI was currently posted in the 9 Battalion of the PAP, Amritsar.

Talking to HT, Charanjit Singh, Commandant of the 9 Battalion of the PAP, said, "We have dismissed Ranjit. We received a letter from the DRI, which mentioned his role in the recent seizure of heroin. Looking at the seriousness of the matter, we dismissed him on Monday," he added.

When asked what the DRI had written in its letter to the police, he said, "It was mentioned that Ranjit was behind the consignment."

The police claimed that the ASI was sometime back posted at a police post near the drain from where the Samjhauta Express and the goods train cross to reach Attari.

It is the same drain where the BSF had found a bag thrown from the Pakistani goods train. In this bag, the BSF had found fake currency and heroin.

The Pakistani goods train has been on the radar of various agencies, as the heroin seizure from the train is regular. On October 8, the customs had seized 105kg heroin from cement bags.

Though ASI Ranjit Singh is on the run, the DRI is likely to investigate his role in other recent seizures also made from the train.