Jalandhar, Punjab (July 12, 2014): Drugs smuggling and trade in Punjab has grown as a major problem in Punjab. During last few days drugs abuse in Punjab spread like an epidemic. Many whistle-blowers, including former Punjab DGP (Prisons) Shahi Kant, have been claiming that the drug trade in Punjab has grown under the patronage, and participation of political-police nexus.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been questioning some politicians of Punjab in relation to a multi-crore synthetic drugs racket. According to certain media reports now even Punjab cops have fallen under the scanner of ED.
ED recently quizzed Bathinda zone IG P. S. Umranangal. Umranangal, posted at Badals’ home district, is considered among the blue eyed boys of the state government.
ED has also summoned Punjab Police SP Balwinder Singh. According to Times of India (TOI), [w]ell placed official sources disclosed that Kandhola’s proximity to Umranangal also emerged during police investigation and it was also reported to the top police brass but the top bosses of the Punjab Police pushed the matter under the carpet and did not let investigators of Punjab Police to pursue the matter further regarding Umrnangal.
Evidence from Kandhola’s call records had also emerged about Punjab Police SP Balwinder Singh’s proximity to Kandhola but he was also spared.
“A few police officials had been enjoying Kandhola’s lavish hospitality at his sprawling farm house in Samrala,” revealed a police officials privy to the investigation details of Synthetic Drug case. However none of these police officials were brought under the scanner, the TOI news report reads.
In fact it is not the first case in which Umranangal is in news for wrong reasons and state government has shielded him.
Punjab DGP N. P. S. Aulakh in 2007 had ordered an enquiry into the killing of an innocent youth Sukhpal Singh and then faking his identity as Gurnam Singh Bundala, but state has not yet completed the enquiry.
According to Col. G S Sandhu of NGO Apna Punjab and deceased Sukhpal Singh’s father Jagir Singh, Sukhpal was killed by a police party led by then Ropar DSP DSP Paramraj Singh Umranangal where late Ajit Singh Sandhu was SSP, and then it was declared that he was prominent militant Gurnam Singh Bundala, who carried a reward of Rs 25 lakhs on his head. “Umranangal took gallantry award, cash award and promotions and later Bundala was arrested alive by Batala police in 1998,” Sandhu said.