A meticulously planned surprise raid aimed at confiscating a stockpile of banned cough syrup bottles in Dumka district of Jharkhand ended in disappointment on Sunday. The joint team of police and administrative officials returned empty-handed from a rented house in Kusumdih, under the Mufassil police station, after finding the targeted contraband missing.
The Raid Based on a Tip-Off
According to sources, the operation was launched following specific intelligence about an illegal cache of prohibited cough syrup bottles stored on the premises. Acting swiftly on the information, a team comprising police and civil administration officials reached the location. However, upon breaking open the lock of the designated room, they discovered it was completely empty. The absence of the expected stock has raised suspicions of a possible security breach, with a probe initiated to ascertain if the accused were forewarned by a mole within the administration.
Official Statements and Missing Evidence
Speaking to the media on Monday, Dumka Civil Surgeon Dr. Kamleshwar Prasad confirmed the sequence of events. He stated that he was informed by Circle Officer (CO) Amar Kumar on Saturday about the alleged stock. Following this, Dr. Prasad instructed the drug inspector to join the raid and verify the facts on the ground. “The drug inspector is yet to submit his report in the case,” Dr. Prasad added.
CO Amar Kumar provided further details, explaining that the search was conducted after forcing open the house lock. “We found some evidence of housebreaking, suggesting some foul play, before the raid team could reach. Now, it is up to the police to investigate the matter and trace the tenant in question,” Kumar stated. The discovery of signs of prior break-in indicates that the illicit stock was likely moved in haste to evade the authorities.
The Tenant and Owner Under Scanner
Investigations have revealed that the room in question is owned by Babulal Kisku, who works as a cook with the Giridih district police. He had rented the space to Rezal Ansari approximately five months ago for a monthly rent of Rs 2,500. While the rental agreement was reportedly for running a courier business, the premises became the focus of a drug raid. Police confirmed that Ansari is currently absconding, and efforts are on to track him down for questioning regarding the missing banned substances.
The failed raid underscores the challenges faced by authorities in curbing the illegal drug trade, especially when operatives may have informants within the system. The Dumka police are now deepening their investigation to uncover the chain of events that led to the premature disappearance of the banned cough syrup stock.
