BIGGEST HEROIN SEIZURE OF 2024 IN PUNJAB: PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS INTERNATIONAL DRUG SYNDICATE; THREE MEMBERS HELD WITH 48KG HEROIN, ₹21 LAKH DRUG MONEY

— TURKEY-BASED HEROIN SMUGGLER NAVPREET ALIAS NAV IS MASTERMIND, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— SYNDICATE'S TENTACLES STRETCH ACROSS 5 COUNTRIES— IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, TURKEY, PAKISTAN AND CANADA, ALONGSIDE DOMESTIC NETWORK SPANNING TWO STATES J&K AND GUJARAT: DGP PUNJAB

— POLICE RECOVER 8KG HEROIN FROM SATNAM SINGH, WHILE REMAINING 40KG AND ₹21L DRUG MONEY RECOVERED FROM HIS DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW: CP JALANDHAR SWAPAN SHARMA

CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, April 29:Making the biggest heroin seizure of 2024, Commissionerate Police Jalandhar has busted an international drug syndicate with the arrest of its three members after recovering 48kg heroin and Rs 21 lakh drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

Those arrested have been identified as Satnam Singh alias Babbi, a native of village Dhandiyan in Nawanshahr and currently residing at Subhash Nagar in Hoshiarpur; his daughter Aman Rozi and his son-in-law Hardeep Singh. Apart from seizing heroin and drug money, Police teams have also impounded their three high-end cars including Toyota Innova, Mahindra XUV and Hyundai Verna, besides recovering one Cash Counting Machine from their possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that this drug syndicate, spread across five countries— Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan and Canada, was actively involved in trans-border and inter-state drug smuggling using their domestic network spanning two states— Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that preliminary investigation has suggested that Gujarat’s sea route and J&K’s land route were used to push this heroin consignment into the territory of India.

The DGP said that a Turkey-based heroin smuggler identified as Navpreet Singh alias Nav is the mastermind of this syndicate. Pertinently, Navpreet Nav was also involved in a 350 kg Heroin seizure by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2021.

“Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the forward and backward linkages in this case,” he said.

Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Jalandhar Swapan Sharma said that acting swiftly on a tip-off, a special naka was conducted near Y-Point Bhagat Singh Colony Bypass and during checking, a Toyota Innova car bearing registration number PB08-DS-2958 was signalled to stop. The driver identified as Satnam Singh alias Babbi attempted to flee from the spot but the police teams managed to apprehend him and upon search of his vehicle 8kg heroin concealed in a bag kept inside the vehicle was recovered, he added.

The CP said that during questioning accused Satnam revealed the role of his daughter Aman Rozi in maintaining financial records and his son-in-law Hardeep Singh, who was handling the distribution of heroin across various districts, often using multiple vehicles for transportation.

“Acting on this information, the police nabbed both suspects from the Nakodar Jalandhar road, and recovered a substantial quantity of 40kg heroin, Rs 21 lakh drug money, two vehicles and one cash counting machine from their possession,” he said.

He said that further inquiry has revealed that while in Hoshiarpur Jail in a drug-related case in 2017, accused Satnam Singh had established connections with major drug kingpins and began ordering heroin in large quantities after securing bail.

In 2023, Satnam’s son Manjit Singh was also arrested in connection with another drug case in Jammu, leading to the recovery of a significant amount of drugs, money, vehicles, and other assets.

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'ENSURE SPECIAL MEASURES FOR POLLING STAFF WELFARE AMID HEAT WAVE DURING POLLS', CEO DIRECTS ALL DCS OF PUNJAB

- Directs to provide shade, drinking water, waiting area, good quality toilets for staff

- Distribution of the honorarium to Polling staff should be done timely: Sibin C

- Deployment of women and PWD staff to be done as per the ECI Guidelines: CEO Punjab

Chandigarh, April 29:In anticipation of the scorching summer temperatures as predicted by IMD, during polling day ( ie June 1st ) of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Punjab, Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C had issued advisory to all Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers to ensure special measures for polling staffs welfare.

Giving further information in this regard, CEO Sibin C said that following the various guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), DCs of Punjab have been reiterated to ensure various arrangements for the welfare and convenience of the polling staff during the electoral process.

The CEO said that as the polling is scheduled on June 1, 2024, which is in the peak of summer season, all DCs have been categorically directed to take adequate measures to mitigate the heat stroke to the polling staff through various measures at the training venue, dispersal centres, polling stations and collection centres.

Apart from this, directions were issued for provision of shade, drinking water, waiting area, good quality toilets for both Men and Women at the training venue, dispersal centres, polling stations and collection centres, the CEO said.

He further added that in a letter issued to all DCs, officers asked for adequate Medicines (ORS etc) and para medical staff to be deployed at all the training venue, dispersal centres, polling stations and collection centres. Likewise, the arrangements at the training venue, dispersal centres, and collection centres should be systematic with sufficient number of counters, adequate staff, signage, coolers, refreshments, public address system, proper tentage sufficient to mitigate the effect of heat and transport facilities for poling staff to return to home once the Polling party reaches the collection centres and hand over the polling materials.

The CEO asked the DCs that clear instructions for depositing election material should be issued in writing in advance at the time of delivery. The arrangements at the Polling station should also be adequate with proper facilities of bedding, refreshments, toilets and mobile medical facilities for polling staff, micro observers as well as security staff (Both State Police and CAPF).

In the letter, the officers were asked to ensure suitable arrangement for food of polling parties where the polling station is located other than schools. The CEO stressed that due to heat wave warning by IMD, during polling day, the voters may turn up late in the polling stations, with possibility of long queue after 6.00 pm, all DCs must also make adequate electricity arrangements for lighting at the Polling stations.

The officers have also been asked for distribution of the honorarium to Polling staff, micro observer as well as Security staff (Both State Police and CAPF) timely with no complaints of late distribution. Similarly, immediate relief to any person engaged in election met with any accidents should be given free medical treatment (which may be reimbursed later) and ex-gratia as per the guidelines of the ECI.

While deployment of polling staff, the officials should make sure the exempted categories of staff as per the guidelines of ECI. The deployment of women staff is to be done as per the ECI Guidelines. The couple cases, where small children and old aged and diseased people are left along in the home, may be considered sympathetically, the CEO said in the letter.

The CEO further said that in order to exercise their right to vote, all the election staff deployed on election duty should be provided with sufficient number of forms for EDC (ELECTION DUTY CERTIFICATE) and PB (POSTAL BALLOTS) and their voting through Voter facilitation centres should be ensured in time so that the election staff can exercise the democratic rights.