STF to launch toll-free number

AMRITSAR: In its combat against the rampant drug menace faced by the state the Special Task Force STF has decided to launch a tollfree number so that people could join their hands in this noble cause

Updated At : 06:40 AM May 12, 2017 IST

The arrested accused who were sent to two-day police custody in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 11

In its combat against the rampant drug menace faced by the state, the Special Task Force (STF) has decided to launch a toll-free number so that people could join their hands in this noble cause.

“It is impossible to fight the menace of narco-terrorism without the constant support from all cross-section of people. Unitedly, we could eradicate the drug problem from its roots like we ended terrorism in the state,” said an official of the STF.

Rashpal Singh, AIG, STF, while talking to this correspondent, said: “Talks were on with the higher authorities. We have got a positive response in this regard and will soon announce the toll free number once its finalised,” he said, adding that this is one of the many steps planned by the STF to counter the menace.

The STF has been strengthened with the addition of more personnel in the squad today. The border range has been divided into two ranges — Border Range I and II. Border range I will cover Amritsar city, Amritsar rural and Tarn Taran while Border Range II will have Batala, Gurdaspur and areas of Pathankot.

Each range would be headed by an AIG (SSP) rank official and have a DSP rank officer, two inspector ranks and so on, said the official.

Meanwhile, two notorious smugglers Sukhchain Singh, alias Chaina of Rajoke, and Jaspal Singh of Waan Tara Singh were arrested yesterday while raids were on to arrest their third accomplice Baba Sonu of Mahawa village, who now resides in the Kot Khalsa area. The STF had confiscated 100 gm of heroin from their possession while their interrogation had led to the seizure of 1.450 kg of heroin. It was concealed in a hollow iron road that connect tractor with the trailer. The seizure was made during a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday from near the barbed fence of the Indo-Pak border.

Both accused were sent to a two-day police custody by the local court today. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act. Rashpal Singh said further interrogation could lead to more recovery. He said there was no previous record of the two accused while one of the accused’s family was involved in drug peddling.

Meanwhile, the STF has arrested a notorious drug peddler who had been evading arrest for the past three years. He was identified as Amarjit Singh, alias Ravi, of Jhabal who now resides in the Kabir Park area. The local court had declared him a proclaimed offender (PO) in a similar offence. DSP Bal Kishan Singla said he was wanted in as many as seven cases registered under the NDPS Act. A large quantity of heroin was seized in these cases, he added.

Notorious drug peddler held

The STF has arrested a notorious drug peddler who had been evading arrest for the past three years. He was identified as Amarjit Sinh, alias Ravi, of Jhabal who now resides in the Kabir Park area. The local court had declared him a proclaimed offender (PO) in a similar offence. DSP Bal Kishan Singla said he was wanted in as many as seven cases registered under the NDPS Act. A large quantity of heroin was seized in these cases, he added.

Nabbed drug smugglers sent to 2-day police custody

Both arrested accused were sent to two-day police custody by the local court on Thursday. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.