Couple associated with Sonu gang arrested from Faridkot
The Himachal Police, in a crackdown on the Sonu gang of interstate drug traffickers in Shimla district, have arrested a couple from Faridkot in Punjab. The accused have been identified as Arshdeep Singh Atwal (31) and his wife Pooja Rani Atwal (29), both residents of Faridkot.
DSP Naresh Sharma said that the accused were brought to Rampur and presented in a court, which sent them to three day-police custody.
He said that on March 3, the police had arrested the kingpin of the gang, Sohan Lal, alias Sonu (32), and his wife Geetha Shreshtha (25), both residents of Shaloa village in Karsog tehsil of Mandi district with 26.68 grams of ‘chitta’ (heroin) from Nerath. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, was registered against them at Rampur police station.
During investigation, their assets worth Rs 922,537 were seized. “As many as 32 persons involved in the purchase and sale of ‘chitta’ have been arrested from various districts, including Mandi, Kullu and Shimla,” he added.
The DSP said, “The investigation revealed that Sonu and his wife had a network of drug traffickers in Shimla and its adjoining districts of Kullu and Mandi. A further probe showed they had links with Arshdeep Singh Atwal and his wife. They were found to be supplying large quantities of ‘chitta’ to Sonu and his wife, who then sold it in Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts,” he added.
Two Punjab residents held with 2.05 kg charas The police have arrested two Punjab residents with 2.056 kg of charas in Bilaspur district. The accused have been identified as Amit Kumar (37), a resident of Azad Nagar in Ludhiana district, and Raman (35), a resident of Fatehgarh Mohalla in Ludhiana.
According to the police, as part of an ongoing special drive against drug traffickers, a Special Detection Team of the Bilaspur police had set up a checkpoint around 50 metres behind the Baloh Toll Plaza and was thoroughly checking vehicles coming from both directions. During checking, a white car (PB 23V 9063) coming from the Mandi side was signalled to stop.
Asked for vehicle’s documents, the couple appeared nervous and were unable to give satisfactory answers to the police. Finding their behaviour suspicious, the police conducted a search of their vehicle. During the search, the police found a black polythene bag having 2.056 kg of charas hidden under a blanket in the car’s trunk. They were immediately arrested and the contraband was seized.
SP, Bilaspur, Sandeep Dhawal said that a case under Sections 20 and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, had been registered against the accused at Ghumarwin police station and an investigation into the matter was underway. He added that the accused were presented in court, which remanded them in police custody.
Himachal Tribune