3 jawans posted in J&K held for drug peddling in Punjab, 255 gm heroin recovered

The accused have been identified as 25-year-old Bikramjit Singh from Ludhiana’s Bhanour village, Jaswinder Singh Jassi from Hoshiarpur district’s Chingar Kalan village, and Baljinder Singh Balli from Faridkot district’s Jaiton, police said.

A senior investigating officer said two days ago, Bikramjit was intercepted at a police checkpoint in Pamaal village, Ludhiana, and 255 gm of heroin were recovered from his possession.

During questioning, Bikramjit revealed he was posted in Srinagar as a sepoy.

“Bikramjit, Jassi, and Balli procured heroin, smuggled from Pakistan, from the LoC and sold in Punjab,” the officer said, on the condition of anonymity.

Based on information provided by Bikramjit, a Ludhiana Police team went to J&K and arrested Jassi and Balli — both posted as havildars in the Army — from Srinagar.

The officer further said: “Bikramjit, who has been posted in Srinagar for over a year, used to take leave and visit his hometown often for this work… The three jawans belong to middle-class families, and had been doing this for easy money.”

An FIR has been registered against the trio under sections 21 and 25 of the NDPS Act at the Jodhan police station, and more arrests are expected in the case, the officer said.