Delhi-based PG owner summoned for probe into seizure of drug, arms

The seizure of contraband and weapons from a paying guest (PG) accommodation near Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has raised many eyebrows as cross-border smugglers have made it (PG room) a storage and further transportation point.

With the arrest of eight persons, the Amritsar (Rural) police yesterday busted trans-border drug trafficking module and seized 4.5kg heroin, six sophisticated weapons and Rs 1.5 lakh drug money from their possession.

Among those arrested included Jagroop Singh, aka Jupa, of Chananke village, Karandeep Singh of Jalal Usma village, Gursewak Singh, alias Sandhu Majhail, of Mehsampur Khurd village, Nishan Singh of Dhianpur, Baba Bakala, Varinder Singh of Wadala Khurd, Lovepreet Singh of Masid Wali Gali, Attari, Lovepreet Singh of Ram Bani Mandir Darzi Wali Gali, Attari, and Jugraj Singh of Mehsampurkhurd.

Jagroop, Karandeep and Gursewak were arrested from the PG room located in the Kabir Park locality in front of the GNDU.

Alarming revelations have come to light during the preliminary probe in the case. According to highly placed sources, the PG accommodation was meant for girls only. Out of four rooms in the PG, girls were staying in three rooms while one room was rented by the accused.

“As per initial investigations, no verification was done while giving room on rent to the accused,” said police officials wishing not to be named. The PG was owned by Kulwant Singh, a resident of Delhi. The police have served a notice to him for joining investigations, but till now there has been no response from his side. If Kulwant failed to join investigations, he may also be nominated in the FIR as co-accused, sources said.

All the eight accused were sent to four-day police remand by the local court for further interrogation. The police authorities said accused Gursewak Singh was wanted by the police in a firing incident in Mehta.

Meanwhile, a day after the arrest of drug peddlers from the PG room, the city police issued orders under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) while asking owners of the PGs to get their

accommodations registered under the Sarais’ Act and keep a complete record of girls or boys staying in rooms.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police-cum-officiating magistrate Navjot Singh said there were not enough exit points that could be used in times of emergency in these buildings that had mushroomed in the city. These buildings were also devoid of fire extinguishers and other safety measures, he said.