Cross-border smuggling racket busted

FAZILKA: Fazilka police have arrested 8 persons for allegedly running an international drug smuggling racket. Police recovered 2kg heroin, two Pakistan SIM cards of Mobilink company, one Pakistani mobile phone and 24 gold biscuits weighing 333 grams from those arrested.
Police identified the mastermind of the racket as former chairman of Dhilwan market committee Gurdev Singh Bholath.Police named Gurdev as the close associate of former Congress MLA and party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Police also claimed that Gurdev had telephonic conversation with Khaira for 78 times in the last 11 months.
Meanwhile, Sukhpal Khaira vehemently denied the police allegations of being involved with Gurdev. He termed it as deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Bholath MLA Jagir Kaur to defame him. He said, "Knowing any person is no offence. It never meant that I am involved in any activities undertaken by Gurdev. I am not surprised at it and will make my position clear on Tuesday in Chandigarh."
Bathinda zone inspector general of police Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Ferozpur range deputy inspector general of police Amar Singh Chahal and Fazilka senior superintendent Swapan Sharma of police addressed a press conference on Monday where they stated that Gurdev befriended one Manjit Singh, who had spent six years in UK before being deported to India in 2005.
Police said Manjit had worked with Major Singh in UK and knew that the latter had links with Pakistan-based drug lords. "He introduced Major to Gurdev after that the latter started having direct communication Pakistani drug lord Imtiaz Ali alias Kala," said IG Umranangal.
Police said the first consignment of 1kg heroin was delivered to Gurdev in October 2014. "Two Pakistani mobile SIM cards and a mobile phone was also delivered along with the contraband. The second consignment of 2kg Heroin was delivered to Gurdev after 3 weeks near Amir Khas village," said the police officials.
Third consignment was of 2kg heroin was delivered in December 2014. "Fourth consignment of 2kg heroin has been recovered by police from Gurdev, Manjit, Harbans Singh and Subhash. One Sonia of Kapurthala and Anil alias Neelu of Jalalabad were assigned the task of delivering the contraband in Amritsar on the instructions of Gurdev," said the IG.
He said Gurdev had telephonic calls with Sukhpal Khaira on 78 occasions in the past 11 months. "Sensing that police had become aware of his activities, Gurdev switched off his mobile phone (98144-00050) on February 28, 2015 but remained in touch with Sukhpal Khaira. Police also recovered 1 country-made pistol of .315 bore with two cartridges and one .32 bore revolver with 25 bullets," said Umranangal.