Chandigarh, Jan 29 (IANS) Amritsar Rural Police have busted a major cross-border narco-terror network with the support of Village Defence Committee (VDC) and recovered 42.9 kg heroin, four hand grenades and one Star-mark pistol along with 46 cartridges, said Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.
This operation is a direct outcome of actionable and credible intelligence generated through the VDCs, a flagship initiative of the state government aimed at institutionalising community participation in internal security and anti-drug efforts.
DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the recovered narcotics, arms, and explosives were dropped via drones from across the international border, clearly indicating the involvement of an organised cross-border narco-terror network.
The DGP said that subsequent investigation has led to the detention of two people, both residents of Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to trace the absconding accused, verify the chain of possession, and uncover the wider conspiracy.
Sharing operational details, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Sandeep Goel said that acting swiftly on the inputs received through the VDC network, police teams intercepted a motorcycle in Oothian village.
On sensing police presence, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle along with the consignment and fled towards adjoining agricultural fields, exploiting darkness and terrain, he said, while adding that police teams immediately launched a systematic search and area domination exercise in surrounding fields, resulting in the recovery of narcotics, arms and explosives consignment.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar-Rural) Suhail Qasim Mir said that an intensive investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the accused, trace forward and backward linkages, and dismantle the entire network. A first information report was registered under Sections 21 and 25 of the NDPS Act and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act at the police station in Rajasansi in Amritsar (Rural).