14 kg heroin seized in Punjab, sarpanch held

Amritsar, Nov 6 (UNI) The Special Narcotics Cell of the Punjab Police seized 14 kg heroin after a brief exchange of fire with a Sarpanch owing allegiance to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and his associate early this morning.

The estimated worth of the drug in the international market is Rs 70 crore.

Giving details to the media, DIG of the Narcotics Cell Jagdish Mittal said on specific information a team of the Cell intercepted two motorcycle borne persons on the Tarn Taran-Jandiala bypass.

While the team managed to overpower one of the motorcycle riders, the other managed to escape and opened fire at the police team.

The DIG said after a brief exchange of fire, the police team nabbed him and on search of the motorcycle, found 14 packets of heroin each weighing one kg. The two accused were later identified as Sukhjinder Singh alias Shinda, an Akali Sarpanch of Khane-ke-Ahel village in Ferozepur district and his colleague Kuldip Singh of Kamalwala village also in Ferozepur district.

The Sarpanch was elected unopposed in the last Panchayat elections. The DIG said besides the heroin, a mauser and some live rounds were also recovered from the Sarpanch.

The heroin consignment had been smuggled from Pakistan through the riverine belt in Ferozepur district and was being transported to a 'safe' hideout in Amritsar. It was to be taken to Delhi later, the DIG added.

Mr Mittal said both the accused were later arrested under the NDPS Act.

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