Latest news with #UTPolice
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Heroin trade via pipes: Chandigarh police unraveled family drug empire
UT Police has dismantled a Pakistan ISI-backed international drug trafficking network, arresting nine individuals, including the kingpin Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Jalalabad (Punjab). The crackdown, conducted by the police station crime branch, resulted in the seizure of approximately 312.71 grams of heroin and ₹5.12 lakh drug money. Cracking the syndicate: How it began On April 14, acting on reliable intelligence, a crime branch team led by inspector Satvinder Singh, apprehended two drug peddlers — Balkar Singh and Navneet Kaur — and recovered 35.17 grams of heroin from them. During police remand, the accused made such disclosures that triggered raids across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, ultimately uncovering the full extent of a Pakistan-supported international drug network. The accused had fled Bikaner (Rajasthan), where police arrested them. Smuggling through pipes and fog At the heart of the syndicate was direct collaboration with Pakistani smugglers, particularly Riyaz Sarwar, commonly referred to as 'Gill' in code words and Aabid Ali from the Kasur area across the border. The gang, led by Gurmeet Singh and his father Satnam Singh, utilised ingenious methods to smuggle heroin into India. Members of the gang regularly conducted reconnaissance along the border. They carefully observed and monitored the movement patterns of the BSF (Border Security Force) personnel to understand the timing and frequency of patrols. They operated through marked pillars near BSF posts and once the smugglers were confident that the BSF patrol had moved away from the marked pillars, they would quickly push two to three packets of heroin through the 4-inch water pipe installed near fencing at a time. This method allowed them to smuggle consignments discreetly without physically crossing the border, reducing the risk of being caught. After pushing the heroin packets through the 4-inch pipe, operatives on the Indian side would swiftly retrieve the consignments. Each smuggler responsible for collecting the drugs from the border was paid a commission of ₹1.5 lakh per delivery. Additionally, the recipient of the heroin in India would make a payment to the Pakistani sender, a portion of which was reportedly shared with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. Active since 2019 This connection was not a recent development — it dates back to 2019, when Gurmeet's father Satnam Singh, along with Mahinder Singh, a notorious Ferozepur drug trafficker, first collaborated with Pakistani handlers to smuggle 70 kg of heroin. Over the last five years, it is estimated that more than one quintal of heroin was funneled into India through this cartel. Police also found that Gurmeet Singh was Facebook friends with Pakistani smuggler Riyaz Sarwar, pointing to the use of social media for maintaining criminal liaisons.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
Cyber fraudsters dupe city resident of Rs 4L
Chandigarh: Cyber fraudsters siphoned off Rs 3.90 lakh from the account of Om Prakash , a resident of Sector-40, on the pretext of recharging Hotstar. The cyber cell of UT Police has registered a case against unknown persons and is investigating the
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
UT Police ups security for Kashmiri students at PU, DAV & other edu centres
Chandigarh: In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the UT Police has implemented a slew of security measures for Kashmiri students enrolled at Panjab University, DAV, and other educational institutions in the city. SSP Kanwardeep Kaur held discussions with the Kashmiri student community at the police headquarters Monday. A dedicated special assistance desk has been set up for them at the police control room in Sector 9. The public can access immediate help through emergency helpline 112 for any distress or security issues. Station house officers (SHOs) have been asked to prioritise student assistance within their jurisdictions. Enhanced police patrols have been deployed in areas with a significant student population. The force maintains ongoing communication to strengthen community relations. SHOs personally met Kashmiri students to assure them of their security. Senior officials are actively overseeing the situation to ensure Chandigarh remains secure and harmonious for all inhabitants. The police have appealed to citizens to preserve peace and immediately report to authorities about any suspicious activities.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
Sector 45 resident loses Rs 3L while trying to sell her dinner set online
Chandigarh: Little did Mehar Kaur Thind know that trying to sell her dinner set online would turn into her worst nightmare. Excited about having found a "buyer", who was ready to shell out Rs 20,000 for the set, she reportedly scanned the QR code the "buyer" sent her via WhatApp and ended up losing a whopping Rs 2.80 lakh. The cyber police have booked unknown persons for allegedly scamming the Sector 45 resident. The cops are trying to trace the account to which the victim was fradulently made to transfer the said amount. In her complaint to UT Police's cybercrime cell, Mehar said she had put up pictures of her dinner set online for sale. Later, a person contacted her and agreed to buy the set for Rs 20,000. The accused sent her a QR code via WhatsApp, asking her to scan it. When she scanned the QR code, Rs 80,000 was withdrawn from her bank account. The accused then pressured her to access her relative Rupinder Kaur's bank account and, under the pretence of completing the transaction, swindled Rs 1.99 lakh more. Therefore, a total of Rs 2,79,900 was fraudulently withdrawn from both accounts. The accused then stopped taking her calls, she said. After realising that she was scammed, she lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police station and provided the details of the transactions fraudulently made by the accused from their accounts.
