Youth dies of drug overdose, peddler held

Amritsar, July 18

A youth identified as Gurinder Singh of Jodha Nagri village here allegedly died of drug overdose at Dharad village falling under the Jandiala police station here. The police recovered a syringe from near the body.

After taking the body into custody, the police registered a case against four persons on charges of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy. Those booked were identified as Harpreet Singh, alias Ghulla, his brother Jashan Singh, Raja and Shamsher Singh, alias Mota, all residents of Dharad village. No arrest has been made till now as the accused are absconding, said the police.

While Shamsher Shera was arrested by the police, others have been at large since the registration of an FIR.

ASI Rajbir Singh, investigating officer, said when a police patrol team reached Dharad village, the informer told them that the accused were involved in large-scale drug peddling due to which many youths in the village and nearby areas had fallen into the trap of drugs.

“The accused had several cases registered under the NDPS Act against them and they were currently on bail. A fresh case under Sections 105 and 61 (2) of the BNS Act was registered against them. Raids were on to nab the absconders,” he said. He said people said many deaths were reported in the village in the past also but the accused did not stop drug smuggling.