Police conduct search operations in Amritsar district ahead of festival season, rural polls

Ahead of the festival of lights, city police as well as their rurul counterparts carried out cordon and search operations (CASO) in different parts of the district on Wednesday.

While the city police team was led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADGP) Ram Singh, the rural police team was supervised by ADGP Manish Chawla.

ADGP Ram Singh and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar headed the search operation in flats at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Maqboolpura, which is infamous for rampant drug abuse and bootlegging. The CASO operations started at around 11am, which culminated at 3pm.

Speaking on the occasion, ADGP Ram Singh said the city was divided in separate zones and areas, notorious for drug abuse and criminal activities, were identified. He said around 1,000 cops, led by four Deputy Commissioners of Police and four Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police, were deputed to supervise the search operations.

Besides Maqboolpura, the police conducted search operations at the Amritsar railway station and the bus stand.

The Police Commissioner said they have identified certain areas which have turned into hideouts of criminal elements and Maqboolpura flats are one of them. He said search operations were conducted at the bus stand and the railway station. Besides, senior police officials were conducting serach operations in other notorious areas.

During the search operations, the police registered 11 cases and seized 5-kg heroin, Rs 4 lakh drug money, three pistols, a double barrel gun, 15 bullets, 89 bottles of illicit liquor. Besides, two proclaimed offenders were also arrested. The police took preventive action against two persons and arrested one in an old case. The police also impounded 54 vehicles and challaned 84 vehicles.

Meanwhile, ADGP Manish Chawla led the search operation at Bhagtupura village falling under the Chatiwind police station here.

The rural police also carried out search operations at Dhingra Colony, Jalal village, Mehta village, Chawinda Devi, Dharar village, Dhariwal village, Jasonangal village, Bhorsi Rajputtan village, Udoke Kalan, Jagana Colony, Rajasansi, Beas and Ramdass area. The police nabbed two hyperactive drug peddlers at Beas and 10 drums containing 1,800 kg of lahan were seized from Sehjada village forest area.

ADGP Manish Chawla said the main objective of the operation was to instill a sense of fear among the criminal elements, besides inculcating a sense of confidence among the residents.

In Tarn Taran, search ops held till evening

Meanwhile, the police conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the district on Wednesday.

The search operations were conducted under the supervision of ADGP Naunihal Singh and SSP Gaurav Toora from morning till late evening. Police teams conducted searches at the city railway station, the bus stand, hotels, and other notorious spots were searched.

SSP Gaurav Toora said the police were having a close watch on the movement of anti-social elements and no one would be allowed to disturb peace and law and order.

He said the panchayat elections would be held in a peaceful way. Nakas have been strengthened in the district on all entry points of the district. The SSP said such operations help build a sense of confidence in public and it create terror in anti-social elements.