Nephew of KLF leader with Pak-links caught with 6 kg heroin

Ludhiana, Aug 22 (UNI) A kin of a terrorist leader, himself having links with Pak-based narco-terrorists, was arrested along with his accomplice after six kg heroin and arms and ammunition were recovered from them near Khurshaidpurn in this district, police today said.

Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Ludhiana (Rural) told reporters that police nabbed Sukhwinder Singh alias Sarpanch, nephew of Daya Singh Lahoria, Chief Lt. of KLF, along with with his accomplice Kulwant Singh 'Kanta' and recovered 6 Kg. Heroine, 1 pistol/mouser 30 bore, 2 magazines 12 crtgs from their possession.

Giving details of the operation, Mr Bhullar said, on getting a tip-off on August 20 night that a car heading towards Jagraon from Jalandhar-side was carrying narcotics, SI Pritam Singh SHO PS Sidhwan Bet, led a police party to hold a 'naka' (check post) near Sutlej River, Khurshaidpur.

At about 2300 hrs, when a the police party stopped a car coming from Nakodar side, its occupants tried to slip away. However, alert police officials apprehended the man who later disclosed his name as Sukhwinder Singh of Barnala district and his co-passenger identified himself as Mohinder Singh of Amritsar district.

Sukhwinder insisted that his car must be searched in presence of a gazetted officer. The SHO then called in SP Ludhiana (Rural) and DSP Jagraon and the search of the car in the presence of these Gazetted Officers, revealed 6 Kg Heroin hidden in a black bag. The rate of the narcotic in international market is Rs. 6 Crore.

During personal search of Sukhwinder, one pistol/mouser 30 bore along with 2 magazines and 12 crtgs. were also recovered.

A case under section 21/25/61/85 NDPS Act, has been registered against the accused.

During the interrogation, the accused revealed that Daya Singh Lahoria, Chief Lt. of KLF , presently lodged in Nabha Jail, is his maternal uncle and and Sukhwinder himself had links with terrorist Gurdeep Singh, Jammu group. He said he got training in using firearms and explosives from Pakistan.

During year 2005, he, as member of a ' jatha' went to Pakistan in connection with Guru Nanak Jayanti and met Vadhawa Singh, Chief of Babbar Khalsa, Ranjit Singh Neeta, Khalistan Jindabad Force, Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Aasic Gurki alias Rana and got training in use of arms, Sukhwinder confessed.

Gurki is still supplying Heroin and arms to them. Rana was supplying Heroin to persons namely Bara and Numberdar of Bhikhiwind and the code words were also passed to them by Rana for the purpose of smuggling, he revealed.

Sukhwinder Singh said he used to take Heroin from them and said that now terrorists have changed their route to Pakistan via Malaysia and Thailand and were doing transaction of money through main 'hawala' dealers in India and Pakistan.

The SP said that seemed that he brought this heroin from Pakistan through Bhikhiwind. Before this, he used to operate through the Indo-Pak border near Jalalabad Distt. Ferozepur.

Apart from this, he admitted to indulging in the sale of Indian fake currency printed by ISI. Sukhwinder Singh also collected money by way of smuggling and from the sympathisers of terrorists who are living abroad. In order to acquit the terrorists from the jails, he was deputing reputed Advocates to represent their cases and helping them financially, he said.

Police of Sidhwan Bet has also arrested yesterday Baldev Singh alias Vicky from Faridabad, who is also accomplice of Sukhwinder Singh.

His another associate Gurdeep Singh Jammu and Jagdev Singh Delhi were presently lodged in Tihar Jail. Jagdev Singh is real brother of Baldev Singh Vicky, Mr Bhullar said.

UNI