Four Arrested in Farmhouse Raid
Hanumangarh police arrested four individuals, including a fugitive wanted in a Gujarat MD drugs case and a government Physical Training Instructor (PTI), after raiding an illegal drug manufacturing unit at a farmhouse in Asrajana village on Saturday. The unit was allegedly capable of producing narcotics worth up to Rs 1 crore.
Superintendent of Police Narendra Meena identified the accused as Subhash Bishnoi of Jalore, who had been absconding in an MD drugs case registered on June 10 at Deesa City South police station in Gujarat's Banaskantha district; Sunil Kumar Rajput (28) of Pilibanga; Ravindra Rajput of Asrajana village; and Vijaypal Singh Rajput, a government PTI posted at a school in Ranisar village. Bishnoi had been hiding in Hanumangarh to evade arrest by Gujarat Police.
Clues from YouTube and a Fake Cosmetics Firm
Acting on a tip-off, Nohar police and the district special team raided a room at a farmhouse in Asrajana village and unearthed what investigators described as a clandestine MD drug manufacturing unit. The four accused were arrested from the spot. Police seized narcotic substances, precursor chemicals, and laboratory equipment allegedly used to manufacture Mephedrone (MD).
The seizure included 212 grams of opium, 5.36 grams of MD, bottles containing Methyl Propiophenone and Benzene ACS 99.5%, 25 litres each of Acetone, Hydrochloric Acid and Methylamine 40%, and 2,500 ml of N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP). According to investigators, Bishnoi became acquainted with Sunil in 2018 when both were staying at a paying guest accommodation in Suratgarh while preparing for police recruitment exams. Police said Ravindra and Vijaypal were associates of Sunil, and the four later conspired to manufacture MD drugs.
Purchased Chemicals Online via Fake Firm
During questioning, the accused allegedly told police they learned the manufacturing process through YouTube videos. Investigators found they had floated a fake cosmetics firm to procure chemicals and laboratory equipment online. Two key precursor chemicals, whose sale is restricted, were allegedly sourced from Gujarat and transported to Hanumangarh by Sunil.
Police said the accused had so far produced around 7-8 grams of MD. While a portion was allegedly consumed by them, 5.36 grams was recovered during the raid. The operation highlights the role of online platforms and social media in enabling illegal drug manufacturing.
