Opium recovered from suspended SHO’s residence

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 21

In a late night raid conducted by special task force (STF) at the house of suspended SHO of Division 2 Amandeep Singh Gill at Khasi Kalan, the police recovered 50 gram of opium. The STF also raided the house of Amandeep’s driver Ajay and recovered Rs 40,000 bribe money from there.

Sources said the STF suspected that the accused could have kept drugs at his home as he was in touch with drug smugglers. The senior STF officials are interrogating him to extract information about his drug network and involvement of any other police officials in the drug network. However, no role of any other police official has come to the fore so far.

Meanwhile, the STF today visited the Division 2 police station to collect some records as also to question the officials who worked under Amandeep.

Cop ‘addicted’ to opium

Meanwhile, sources confirmed the suspended SHO was also a drug addict. Yesterday, his dope test was conducted which confirmed that he also takes some drugs. Sources said the SHO had addiction of opium, not heroin.

Amandeep (39) was arrested by the STF with 10.35 gram of heroin recovered from five criminals. The criminals were reportedly let off by the SHO after taking a few thousands from them as bribe. However, the SHO kept the heroin recovered from the criminals and asked the latter to bring more money or else he would not release their Swift car and six mobile phones.

No dismissal yet, let STF submit probe report: CP

Commissioner of Police Rakesh Agrawal told The Tribune that the suspended SHO, SI Amandeep Singh, had not been dismissed yet. The STF will submit a complete probe report, on the basis of which they will decide whether ASI should be dismissed from police services or not. “The report will highlight the conduct of the accused cop such as kind of drug he is addicted to, his network with notorious elements or any illegal activity he resorted to in the past while holding the position of SHO,” said CP.