Punjab: Army personnel, dismissed cop among six arrested for links to Pak-backed drug cartel
Chandigarh (PTI): An Army man, a dismissed Punjab Police personnel and two women were among six people arrested on Sunday as the state police unearthed a well-organised heroin trafficking network.
The accused were involved in multiple drug trafficking cases, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.
In an X post, he said, "In a major breakthrough, Faridkot Police, after a two-month-long jail-based interception, busts a well-organised heroin trafficking network, apprehends six accused, including one Army personnel and one dismissed police personnel, and recovers 4.8 kilograms of heroin, one weapon, and a Thar and an XUV."
The DGP said an FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages.
In a later statement, he said the breakthrough was the result of a meticulously planned, intelligence-led operation and a two-month-long jail-based interception that exposed the cartel's deep-rooted linkages.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused were in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers, who used drones to push heroin consignments into the Indian territory, Yadav said.
According to a statement from the Punjab Police, those arrested have been identified as Jarnail Singh alias Goldy, a Ludhiana resident currently serving in the Indian Army; Amardeep Singh alias Boxer, a Punjab Armed Police cadre employee who was dismissed in 2021; Dimple Rani of Ferozepur; and Ramandeep Kaur, Sarabjit Singh alias Sabba and Amritpal Singh alias Abhijot, all residents of Moga.
Addressing a news conference in Faridkot, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pragya Jain said that apart from the contraband, the police seized drug money worth Rs 30,000 and impounded two vehicles -- Thar and XUV-500 -- which the accused were using for drug trafficking.
Jain said the involvement of a serving Army personnel and a former police official points to a sophisticated network capable of exploiting institutional knowledge for drug trafficking.
"They misused their official identification cards for easy passage through nakas and toll plazas. Taking along women accomplices in the vehicles while transporting the consignment also points to a well-thought-out modus operandi," she said.
The two women -- Dimple Rani and Ramandeep Kaur -- were actively involved in the drug network and used to travel with the other accused, she added.
The SSP said they established backward linkages and found that the mastermind was Boxer, the dismissed policeman, who was a habitual offender with nine previous criminal cases registered against him, while most other members also have significant criminal records under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act.
"Boxer faces nine cases, of which two are registered in Haryana's Sirsa and one case by Punjab's Counter-Intelligence," she said.
Explaining the origin of the police probe, she said that sometime ago, Faridkot Police had arrested a person and recovered some weapons from him. The subsequent probe into this network and human intelligence led to the successful busting of the current network, she said.
In the early hours of February 21, police intercepted the Thar in which Army man Jarnail Singh was travelling along with Sarabjit Singh, Amritpal Singh and Ramandeep Kaur. On checking the vehicle, they recovered 1.08 kilograms of heroin and Rs 30,000 worth of drug money.
During sustained questioning, the four people revealed that Boxer was the mastermind of the smuggling network. He was traced and arrested along with Dimple Rani. An XUV 500, over 3.7 kilograms of heroin, an illegal weapon and cartridges were recovered from them, SSP Jain said.
"We found hooks on the heroin packets, indicating that the consignment was a drone-dropped delivery," she said, adding, "A jailed person is involved in the module. We will bring him on a production warrant and gather more information."
On the person's identity, Jain said it cannot be disclosed at the moment as it could hamper the ongoing investigation.
"It was found that the module was using a mobile phone in jail, through which this person was issuing instructions. We have brought up the matter with the jail authorities," she added.
Police have obtained remand of all the accused. Further investigation will specifically focus on handlers operating from across the border and local distribution points, she said.
VIDEO | Faridkot: Punjab Police have busted a Pakistan-backed international drug cartel, seizing 4.804 kg of heroin and one gun, and detaining six accused, including two women.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2026
Pragya Jain, SSP Faridkot, said, “Strict action was necessary. Under this operation, the Faridkot… pic.twitter.com/G8fkBFpJAe
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
