Around 200 police personnel conduct searches in Sangat Kalan and Sangat Mandi following SAD’s purported sting video

Bathinda, 08 September (H.S.): Bathinda Police conducted a large-scale cordon and search operation in Sangat Kalan village and Sangat Mandi on Tuesday, two days after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shared a purported sting video concerning the sale of drugs. Around 200 police personnel participated in the operation, during which nearly 20 individuals were detained and some recoveries were made.

The SAD had shared a three-minute, 12-second video on its Facebook page, claiming that ‘chitta’ was being sold for as little as Rs 600 in Sangat Kalan village and delivered through women. The party demanded an immediate investigation and questioned the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the drug problem in the state. However, the claims made in the video have not been independently verified.

Bathinda Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Jagdish Bishnoi said that nearly 20 persons were detained during Tuesday’s operation and recoveries had also been made. Police had earlier arrested Harinder Singh, Manjinder Kaur and Arunpreet Singh Gaggu in connection with the case and claimed to have recovered nine grams of heroin from them.

Bishnoi said that the exact details of the action and recoveries would be shared after the registration of FIRs. Further investigation and legal proceedings in the matter are underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH