Eight, including 5 Punjab policemen, for snatching heroin

Chandigarh, Aug 5: The Punjab Police's Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday arrested five state police personnel and three private persons who have snatched 300 gm heroin and extorted Rs 8 lakh from a drug trafficker by impersonating an STF unit.

The arrested policemen are attached with State Counter Intelligence unit, said Additional Director General of Police, Border Range cum STF chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu, adding that the action was part of the STF's sustained campaign to break the nexus between drug traffickers and police.

"Rajinder Singh Sohal, SP, STF, Mohali unit has received information last light that a police party comprising personnel from Counter Intelligence, Punjab snatched 300 gm heroin from drug trafficker Narinder Singh and extorted Rs 8 lakh under threat by impersonating STF unit, Fazilka and released him without taking any legal action," he said.

The policemen arrested include Sub Inspector Sushil Kumar, constable Gagandeep Singh, Head Constable Jarnail Singh and constable Harjit Singh.

"Sub Inspector Sushil Kumar conspired with other police personnel and went to Lalru area which is out of their jurisdiction. They used their own private cars after changing the number plates and did not inform their senior officers or take permission from them.

"They stopped the vehicle of Narinder Singh in Lalru area posing as a team from 'STF unit Fazilka' and took him forcibly towards Fatehgarh Sahib side," Sidhu said.

He said that the police officials first snatched the heroin and later extorted money from the trafficker.

Three others arrested were identified as Gagandeep Singh Mann, Sukhpreet Singh and Vakil Singh.