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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
8 drug addicts escape from Govt de-addiction centre in Punjab's Sangrur
Eight drug addicts allegedly escaped from a government-run de-addiction centre in Punjab's Sangrur district after reportedly attacking a policeman and a nurse with steel plates during dinner time on Tuesday evening, the police said. The police have formed multiple teams to trace and apprehend the escapees of the centre at Ghabdan village, said an officer. The policeman, identified as Malkeet Singh, was injured and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. 'I was attacked on the neck, and they tried to strangulate me, due to which I became unconscious. Many inmates tried to flee, but the staff managed to control some. A few still managed to escape,' he told reporters on Wednesday. Sartaj Singh Chahal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, said, 'Follow-up is being done by the administration with the officials at the de-addiction centre. They were addicts, not criminals. Hence, it needs to be dealt with sensitivity.' SSP Chahal told The Indian Express, 'Several people come for rehabilitation. Some are a bit mischievous. That is what rehabilitation is for. It is essential to see the daily practical efforts at the ground level. The war against drugs is made up of daily battles, some obvious, some unobtrusive.' Most of the inmates were previously arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, but were sent to the rehabilitation centre as they were drug addicts, revealed sources. A similar incident was reported at the facility in January last year, where nine addicts escaped under almost identical circumstances — attacking the staff with steel plates during dinner.
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Sangrur: Inter-state gang stealing mobile tower equipment busted; four arrested
Four members of an inter-state gang, involved in over 100 mobile tower equipment thefts in Punjab, have been arrested, Sangrur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sartaj Singh Chahal said on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Ramkaran Singh alias Laddi, Avtar Singh, Prem Singh, and Rupinder Singh alias Chinu. They were allegedly stealing mobile tower equipment and selling it further. A car and 31 GCU1 cards were recovered from their possession. The SSP said the gang had committed thefts in Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Moga, Mansa, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib as well. The gang members used to work in mobile tower companies, which gave them an opportunity to steal valuable equipment. The accused were arrested on June 12 under charges of 303(2) (theft) and 317(2) (stolen property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Drug smuggling racket uncovered in Sangrur jail, DSP arrested
A deputy superintendent of police (DSP), posted in Sangrur jail, was arrested for allegedly facilitating smuggling of drugs and other banned items into the prison, police said on Thursday. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sartaj Singh Chahal said that DSP (security) Gurpreet Singh was arrested on May 13 after probe revealed a well-organised drug smuggling racket operating within the Sangrur jail. Last month, during a surprise check, authorities had recovered four smartwatches, nine mobile phones, 50 grams of opium, and other contraband from the inmates. Initially, a Class-4 employee, Prashant Majumdar, along with 17 others, including jail inmates, had been arrested in this case. Pursuing backwards and forward linkages, the investigation led to the arrest of Manpreet Singh from Amritsar, an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh, who is currently lodged in the jail. Cops later discovered that the DSP had allegedly received payments -- ₹40,000 cash and ₹26,000 via UPI – from the family of another inmate Gurchet Singh Chetta, for smuggling two mobile phones and 25 gm heroin into the jail. Of this, 12 grams of heroin were recovered this month from Ravi Malerkotla, against whom a separate FIR has been registered. Two other inmates, Gurraj Singh and Raghvir Singh were also found to be in contact with the DSP. SSP Chahal said that following the DSP's arrest, sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act have also been invoked, in addition to Arms Act, Prisons Act, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. In all, 19 persons, including the DSP, have been arrested in this case.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Trial of 18 accused in Sangrur 2024 hooch tragedy continues
The Amritsar hooch tragedy, which has claimed at least 21 lives, comes 14 months after the Sangrur incident that left 20 dead in March 2024 — a case whose trial is still ongoing. The back-to-back tragedies have punctured the Punjab government's claims of clamping down on liquor mafia. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Sangrur, Sartaj Singh Chahal said that all 18 individuals accused in the Sangrur hooch case are now facing trial before the additional session judge in a special court. 'While some individuals initially taken into custody were granted bail, the remaining 18 accused are currently on trial. These accused have been charged and the process of recording their testimonies is ongoing,' the SSP said on Tuesday. In March 2024, 20 daily-wage labourers had died in an illicit liquor tragedy in Sangrur, chief minister Bhagwant Mann's home district, again exposing the easy availability of toxic alcohol in villages through a well-organised network. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Dirba, Rupinder Kaur Bajwa, said shared a detailed breakdown of the case. 'Initially, 24 individuals were identified as accused, but after investigation, six were granted bail, leaving 18 persons lodged in jails across Sangrur and Bathinda. A total of three FIRs were registered in response to the tragedy in Dirba, Sunam and Cheema police stations,' the DSP said. Dirba FIR Four accused, currently held in Sangrur jail, face charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (murder), Section 34 IPC (common intention), Section 120-B IPC (criminal conspiracy), violations of the Excise Act, relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Sections 468, 469, 471 IPC (forgery), and Section 328 IPC (administering poisonous substances). Cheema FIR Six accused have been named in the FIR. One woman is jailed in Bathinda, while five men are in Sangrur jail. Charges include Excise Act violations and Sections 120-B, 302, 468, 469, 471 and 328 of the IPC. Sunam FIR Eight individuals were accused—seven men in Sangrur jail and one woman in Bathinda jail. They face charges under Sections 120-B, 302, 468, 469, 471 of the IPC and Excise Act violations and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act. Investigations last year had confirmed the presence of methanol, a lethal industrial chemical, in the illicit liquor that led to the deaths.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Drug racket in Sangrur jail: Inmate among 2 held with 4kg heroin, Glock
Sangrur police have busted the drug racket being run from the district jail with the arrest of an inmate and his accomplice, officials said on Monday. The arrest led to the seizure of 4kg heroin, ₹5.5 lakh drug money and a Glock 9mm pistol with two rounds. Sangrur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sartaj Singh Chahal said last month the police had searched jail premises leading to the recovery of 50 grams of opium, six smartphones, three keypad phones, four smartwatches, and various mobile accessories. 'An inmate, Gurvinder Singh, when questioned, revealed that he was operating a drug racket with the help of Manpreet Singh (24), who was out on bail. Manpreet, a resident of Amritsar was arrested, which led to the recovery of 4 kg of heroin, ₹5,50,000 drug money, a Glock 9mm pistol, and 2 live rounds, the SSP said. Prashant Maujumdar, an employee of the jail and three others, identified as Rachpal Singh, Harpreet Singh, and Munna, were also held for supplying mobiles and other gadgets to the inmates. Chahal said an FIR against the accused has been registered under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Section 52A of the Prisons Act.
