Invoking the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act for the first time in Punjab, the police, in a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), took notorious drug smuggler Balwinder Singh, alias Billa Sarpanch, alias Billa Havellian, into preventive custody and sent him to Dibrugarh Jail, Assam.
Under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, a habitual offender can be put under preventive detention for a year without bail.
Balwinder Singh, who was associated with Damdami Taksal for decades, was from the Sangrawan faction led by Giani Ram Singh. He was the nephew of the Sikh seminary’s 13th chief, Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale. He was also an office-bearer of the Sant Samaj.
Fazilka senior superintendent of police Varinder Brar said the accused are Ravitej from Kubba Heri Now Padaul village, Mullanpur Garibdass, and Balwinder Singh, also known as Ballu, from Mirjapur village, Majri, both residing in Mohali
Balwinder was sentenced to beheading after a Riyadh court found him guilty in a murder case. In 2013, Balwinder hit a Saudi national with a stick during a brawl which proved fatal. He was held and sent to jail where Balwinder reportedly claimed that he had hit the victim in self-defense.