Operations Across Multiple Police Stations
On July 25, the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district police conducted coordinated anti-narcotics and excise enforcement operations, resulting in the registration of five separate cases and the arrest of five individuals. The operations were executed by teams from Nawanshahr Sadar Police Station, Rahon Police Station, Banga City Police Station, and Behram Police Station as part of the district's ongoing drive against drug trafficking and illegal liquor smuggling.
Details of the Arrests
In the first case, FIR No. 115 was registered at Sadar Nawanshahr Police Station under Sections 21, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act. During a patrol near Sajawalpur village, police intercepted a suspicious pedestrian who allegedly attempted to dispose of a packet upon noticing the police. The accused was identified as Arshdeep, son of Ram Lal, a resident of Ratnana village. A search revealed the packet contained 10 grams of heroin.
In a separate operation, Rahon Police Station registered FIR No. 122 under Section 21 of the NDPS Act against Akash (31), son of Malkiat Ram, a resident of Dariyapur village. Police alleged that while patrolling near Nilowal bridge, the accused tried to throw away a packet on seeing the police. The packet was seized and found to contain 10 grams of heroin.
City Banga Police registered an FIR under Section 21 of the NDPS Act after recovering 6 grams of heroin from Balwant Singh (59), a resident of Dusanjh Khurd village. Another case was registered at the same station under Sections 21 and 22 of the NDPS Act against Balwinder Singh alias Binda (approximately 40 years old), son of Harbans Singh, a resident of Bharon Majara village. Police recovered 6 grams of heroin along with 20 alprazolam 0.5 mg tablets from his possession. Officials noted that the batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry details on the tablet strips had allegedly been erased with a black marker, suggesting an attempt to conceal their origin.
Liquor Smuggling Case
Behram Police Station registered an FIR under the Punjab Excise Act against Harjot Singh (35), a resident of Pharala village. A search of his vehicle led to the recovery of five cartons of Punjab Club King Whisky, containing a total of 60 bottles. This arrest underscores the district's focus on curbing both drug trafficking and the illegal liquor trade.
Ongoing Investigation and Impact
Police officials stated that all accused have been taken into custody, and investigations are underway to trace the source of the seized substances and identify any wider supply network. The authorities are also examining the erased markings on the alprazolam tablets to track their origin. These operations highlight the proactive measures by SBS Nagar police to combat the scourge of drugs and illegal liquor, which have been linked to numerous social and health issues in the region. The seizures amount to a total of 32 grams of heroin, 20 psychotropic tablets, and 60 bottles of illicit whisky. With the district's intensified enforcement, further arrests and seizures are anticipated as police continue their patrols and intelligence-led operations.
