The Ropar police have intensified investigations into the suspected local connections of five alleged drug smugglers who were arrested following a brief encounter near Nangal. The authorities are now focusing on tracing links with drug peddlers operating in Nangal and the bordering areas of Himachal Pradesh.
Police Remand Granted
All five accused were produced before the Judicial Magistrate in Nangal on Friday, who remanded them in police custody until June 22. This period will allow the police to conduct further interrogation.
Investigations Reveal Delivery Plan
According to police sources, preliminary investigations indicate that the accused had traveled to Nangal with the intention of delivering a consignment of heroin to local peddlers active in the region. The investigators are now working to identify the intended recipients and dismantle the network facilitating drug movement in the area.
Arrest Details
The five accused were arrested on Thursday after a police team intercepted their vehicle near Naya Nangal based on specific intelligence. During the operation, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police party while attempting to flee. In the ensuing action, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury and was later admitted to BBMB Hospital in Nangal.
Inter-State Network Suspected
Sources believe that the arrested smugglers were part of a larger inter-state drug trafficking network supplying heroin to peddlers in Nangal and nearby areas along the Punjab-Himachal border. Although no further arrests have been made yet, police teams are gathering intelligence to identify local contacts who may have been awaiting the delivery.
“The focus of the investigation has now shifted towards establishing the forward linkages of the accused. The police are trying to identify the local peddlers who were allegedly in contact with them and were expected to receive the heroin consignment,” a source said.
Accused Identified
The arrested individuals have been identified as Lovepreet Singh from Mohali district, Rohit from Hisar, Shubham from Jind, Parikshit from Sonipat, and Lehmastak Pratap Singh from Chandigarh.
Recovered Items
During the operation, the police recovered 150 grams of heroin, a .32 bore pistol loaded with five live cartridges, and the Hyundai Accent car used by the accused.
Police Statement
SSP Ropar, Maninder Singh, stated that the accused were produced before a court on Friday. “We will seek their police remand for further investigation. The interrogation of the accused is expected to provide important leads regarding the source of the heroin as well as the persons to whom the consignment was to be delivered,” he said.
Custodial Interrogation
Police officials believe that custodial interrogation could help uncover both backward and forward linkages of the network, including suppliers, transporters, and local distributors involved in the trade.
Legal Action
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act.
