SATISH HANDA

Special Task Force (STF) on a clue arrested two drug smugglers identified as Shamsher Singh alias Shera resident of Rampur in U.P and his nephew Malkiat Singh resident of village Alampur in Patiala district (Punjab) and during search recovered 2 kg 800 gm of value worth rs 4.20 lakh opium from their possession kept in the dash board of their vehicle near fruit 7 vegetable market on Kurukshetra- Pehowa road in Kurukshetra district. A case wasa registered against both unnder NDPS Act. They were produced in the court and remanded to police custody. According to information Shamsher Singh was earlier arrested by Punjab police in drugs smuggling and presently released on bale.

During police remand, they admitted purchasing opium from U.P at the rate Rs 1.50 per kg and supplying in Haryana and Punjab and disclosing the name of main supplier in U.P told that they used to bring drugs in train. Both disclosed that they were selling opium after adulteration mixing to it ‘gud’ Bournvita and Stevin powder in nearly 40% ratio to give taste similar to opium. STF in-charge Kulbhushan told that a secret information about both involved in smuggling and selling drugs was received when police stopped their vehicle when both were on way to supply opium and succeeded in arresting both. He told that they were adulterating opium mixing Stevin powder to provide bitterness and intoxication, Bournvita adding pleasantness in taste and ‘gud’ giving a bit sweet taste to earn more profits. He said, a police team is being sent to U.P for the arrest of main opium supplier