JALANDHAR /NAKODAR
The Jalandhar (rural)police and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), have arrested three notorious drug smugglers, including infamous drug peddler Rano, who is a wanted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and a proclaimed offender. The joint team also recovered Rs 1.12 lakh of drug money, gold ornaments, and a vehicle used in drug trafficking operations.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ranno, wife of Darshan Lal, a resident of Patti Takhar Shankar village under Sadar Nakodar police station; her daughter Baljinder Kaur, the wife of Parminder Kumar, a resident of Langroa village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district; and their driver, Sukhdev alias Dani. Ranno has been facing 17 cases in various police stations in the district.
The operation led to the recovery of Rs 1.12 lakh in cash, believed to be drug proceeds, along with gold ornaments, including a chain, locket, and two pairs of earrings. The vehicle, bearing registration number PB-10-FC-5511, suspected to have been used for drug smuggling, was also seized.
Senior Superintendent of Police Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh told the media that the arrests are part of a larger campaign aimed at dismantling the drug network in the district. This joint operation has been carried out under the supervision of SP (Investigation) Jasrup Kaur Bath, with DSP Kulwinder Singh Virk leading the operation. Sub-Inspector Baljinder Singh, SHO of Police Station Sadar Nakodar, and officers from the AGTF supported the operation.
Rano Devi, identified as a key player in heroin trafficking, was wanted in the case of NCB Chandigarh. She had received heroin from Akshay Chhabra, who delivered the drugs through Ajay Kumar alias Gora Grover and Sandeep Singh alias Deepu at Vishwakarma Chauk, Ludhiana, near Dargah. Ranno had previously paid an advance to purchase 2 kg of heroin from a larger seizure of 20.326 kg on November 15, 2022.
Baljinder Kaur has been facing non-bailable warrants and proclamation orders under Section 82 of Cr.P.C. The Special Court in Ludhiana had, declared Rano Devi and two others, Surinder Kumar Kalra and Neelam Kalra, as proclaimed offenders.
A case has been registered under sections 21- 22,/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act, and sections 342, 411, 120-B, and 482 of the IPC at Sadar Nakodar police station. Ranno Devi, involved in 17 criminal cases under the NDPS Act, remains a key target in the police's ongoing operations against drug syndicates.
Reiterating the firm stance against drug trafficking, SSP Khakh warned smugglers, stating, "The Jalandhar Rural Police, in collaboration with agencies like AGTF, are committed to pursuing drug offenders relentlessly. This district will not tolerate the menace of drugs, and we will continue our crackdown without leniency."