In a breakthrough, the Punjab Police on Wednesday busted a well-organised smuggling racket operating from within Sangrur jail premises, leading to the arrest of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in charge of the prison. A Class-IV employee, Manpreet Singh, whose role in facilitating the smuggling activities came to light, was also arrested, the police said.
According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, acting on credible intelligence, nine mobile phones, four smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, and other contraband items were recovered during a raid inside the jail on Wednesday.
The police said that Gurpreet Singh, DSP Security, Sangrur Jail, was arrested for his active involvement in drug smuggling activities and supply of mobile phones inside the jail, and receiving payments through UPI accounts linked to his family members.
“Pursuing backward and forward linkages, the investigation further led to the arrest of Manpreet Singh from Amritsar, an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh who is currently lodged in Sangrur Jail,” said Yadav.
The police have recovered 4 kg of heroin, ₹5.5 lakh money, one Glock pistol, and live rounds from Manpreet Singh’s possession.
“We are committed to a zero-tolerance policy against any form of internal compromise or collusion with criminal elements. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and disclosures are expected,” the DGP said.
He added that any individual, regardless of their rank or position, will not be spared if found involved in illegal activities.
Story continues below this ad
The development comes in the wake of the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashe Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign of the Punjab Government to eradicate the pervasive drug menace in the state.
Launched with a zero-tolerance policy, the campaign addresses Punjab’s long-standing drug crisis, fuelled by its proximity to the Golden Crescent (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) and high demand for substances like heroin, opium, and synthetic drugs. The campaign seeks to eliminate drug trafficking, dismantle supply chains, arrest smugglers, and curb cross-border smuggling.
The Punjab Police have also targeted black sheep within the department with several arrests being made of serving police personnel, though the exact numbers have not been given out. The DGP has gone on record to say that serving policemen who indulge in drugs smuggling will be treated on a par with criminals and dealt with accordingly.