Heroin has closer link with crime acts, says NCB zonal director

In December 2016, the CIA sleuths had arrested a person - Manoj Kumar - along with his accomplice Gursevak Singh with 2 kg heroin in Mohali. The accused was earlier also arrested under sections of NDPS.

3 min readChandigarhJul 31, 2017 06:20 AM IST

Criminals in the city are reported to be addicts, mostly to heroin nowadays, said Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths. The Chandigarh unit of the bureau, which nabbed drug peddlers in the region, claimed that consumption of heroin is higher among the criminals, followed by charas and other contraband. Kaustubh Sharma, NCB zonal director, told the Chandigarh Newsline that heroin has a closer link with criminal activities. “It is not necessary that every criminal is a drug addict. But most of them, especially linked with snatching and thefts, are reportedly drug addicts and most of them consume heroin,” he said.

In order to fulfill the desire of this contraband, the addicts are pushed towards committing more snatchings and thefts.

“Heroin is slightly expensive than other drugs. When there is a demand for money to fulfil desire of this contraband, the addicts move to commit snatchings and thefts,” said Sharma, adding that this contraband gives more pleasure to the addicts and helps them overcome the fear of committing crime.

The NCB zonal director also said the supply of heroin has been coming mainly from Delhi these days. “We have nabbed a few drug peddlers who revealed that they brought heroin from Delhi and were here for supply,” he said.
Going by the incidents in the past there were criminals who were involved closely with intoxicants. In August 2016, the Chandigarh Police had booked a prisoner of Model Jail after he was found possessing 4.9 gm heroin. The complainant in the case, Parveen Kumar, welfare officer, Model Jail, Burail, reported that during the search, 4.9 gms of heroin has been recovered from a prisoner, Sukhwinder Singh, who is lodged in Model Jail, Burail.

The same time, the Chandigarh Police had also arrested undertrial Rajan Bhatti, who managed to give a slip to the policemen from the district court at Sector 43 on October 13, 2015. The police had recovered a country-made pistol along with five live cartridges and 15 gm heroin from Bhatti’s possession.

In December 2016, the CIA sleuths had arrested a person – Manoj Kumar – along with his accomplice Gursevak Singh with 2 kg heroin in Mohali. The accused was earlier also arrested under sections of NDPS. Police sources had told that accused Manoj was out on parole and he did not return to the jail and indulged in drug peddling.

In 2015, the Chandigarh Police had arrested two persons involved in vehicle theft and burglaries in the city. One car, four motorcycles, two laptops, eight cellphones, two air conditioners and a rickshaw were recovered from them. The police said both the accused were drug addicts and used to commit theft to fulfill their needs of drugs.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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