PUNJAB NEWS : In a significant breakthrough under the state’s anti-drug initiative ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, launched on the directive of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Sangrur Police has exposed a major drug smuggling operation running from within Sangrur Jail. The operation led to the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Security Gurpreet Singh, according to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Based on reliable intelligence, police conducted a raid inside the jail, recovering 12 mobile phones, 4 smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams of heroin, and other illegal items. The initial investigation also uncovered the involvement of a Class-IV employee named Parshant, who played a key role in facilitating the smuggling inside the jail, confirmed the DGP.
Further probing revealed connections to Manpreet Singh, a known drug trafficker from Amritsar and associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh. From Manpreet, the police seized 4 kilograms of heroin, ₹5.5 lakh in drug proceeds, and a 9MM Glock pistol with two live cartridges.
DGP Gaurav Yadav emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. He reiterated that no one—regardless of position—will be shielded if found involved in such criminal activities.
Providing further details, SSP Sangrur Sartaj Singh Chahal confirmed that DSP Gurpreet Singh was directly engaged in smuggling contraband and phones into the jail. Investigations revealed that the DSP had accepted ₹40,000 in cash from an inmate’s relative and received ₹26,000 via UPI into his wife’s account to smuggle 25 grams of heroin and two phones. Of the heroin smuggled in, 12 grams was recovered from an inmate named Ravi, who was reportedly distributing it among other prisoners under the instructions of inmate Gurchet.
So far, 19 people have been arrested in connection with the case, including DSP Gurpreet Singh, jail employee Parshant, drug trafficker Manpreet Singh, Gurchet’s mother Banto alias Banso, and 15 inmates. The inmates arrested include Gurvinder Singh, Lovejeet Singh, Sikander Singh, Pargat Singh, Sultan Singh, Aman Kumar, Ajay, Harpreet Singh (Ludhiana), Rishipal, Harpreet Singh (Dhuri), Munna, Gur Raj Singh, Raghvir Singh, Gurchet Singh, and Rajiv Kaushal alias Gaggu.
Authorities are continuing their probe to uncover the full scope of the smuggling network. A case has been registered under FIR No. 75 dated April 27, 2025, at Police Station City-1, Sangrur, under various sections of the NDPS Act, the Prisons Act, the Arms Act, and later, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.