In a dramatic operation that unfolded just steps away from one of Punjab's most secured addresses, the Chandigarh Police on Saturday afternoon intercepted two suspected drug traffickers and seized a substantial quantity of heroin. The high-stakes arrest occurred alarmingly close to the high-security residence of the Punjab Chief Minister, sending shockwaves through the city's administrative nerve center and triggering a major probe.
Interception at the High-Security Zone
The incident took place at around 4 pm on Saturday in the sensitive Sector-1 area. A vigilant patrol team from the UT Police Operation Cell was conducting surveillance when they spotted two individuals acting suspiciously. The men were seen crossing barricades near the Nayagaon barrier and were moving directly towards the Chief Minister's official residence.
Upon noticing the police presence, the two suspects panicked and attempted to flee back towards the Nayagaon side. A brief chase ensued, leading to their swift apprehension by the officers. During the capture, the duo was allegedly caught in the act of trying to discard polythene packets they had concealed in their pockets.
The Accused and the Significant Haul
The police have identified the arrested individuals as Mohammad Shaban, aged 23, and Mohammad Zeeshan Ansari, aged 19. Both hail from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. The packets recovered from them contained heroin. The total weight of the seized narcotic was nearly 200 grams, a quantity that under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is considered a major seizure, especially for a routine residential patrol operation.
Intensive Investigation Launched
The arrests have opened a significant investigation into what appears to be a concerning narcotics pipeline connecting Uttar Pradesh to Chandigarh's elite zones. The accused were presented before a local court, which has remanded them to police custody for further interrogation.
Investigators are now focused on unraveling several critical threads. The primary goals are to uncover the original source of the heroin in Uttar Pradesh and to map the local distribution network intended to supply the Chandigarh market. A pressing question for the police is also to determine why the accused chose a route that brought them within meters of a high-profile, heavily guarded residence, raising serious security concerns.
This brazen incident near the CM's home underscores the audacity of drug trafficking networks and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing the interstate flow of illicit substances into Punjab and its capital region.
