Day later, 2 more linked to Naikoo aide arrested

Amritsar, May 8

A day after the arrest of two accomplices of Hizb operative Hilal Ahmad Wagay, two more persons linked to the alleged drug-terror nexus were nabbed by the police today.

Wagay was an associate of Hizb commander Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, who was gunned down in south Kashmir on Wednesday. Ranjit Singh and Jaswant Singh, both residents of Kalanaur (Gurdaspur), were produced in a local court, which remanded them in four-day police custody. Wagay was sent to judicial custody.

Sleuths, including those of the NIA, grilled Hilal and others, it is learnt. Hilal was arrested with alleged drug money near a shopping mall on the Amritsar-Attari road when he, along with Rayees Ahmad of Anantnag, was travelling in a truck on April 25. Ahmad’s role could not be ascertained.

Yesterday, the police had arrested Hilal’s associates Bikram Singh, alias Vicky, and his brother Maninder Singh, both residents of Guru Amardass Avenue here, and seized 1 kg heroin and Rs 32 lakh cash.

Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said preliminary probe pointed towards drug money from Punjab being used in fuelling terror in Kashmir. — TNS