4 min readAmritsarAug 25, 2023 07:54 AM IST
First published on: Aug 25, 2023 at 07:54 AM IST
The Pakistan Rangers have claimed to have detained six smugglers from India between July 29 and August 3 who they allege were trying to ‘smuggle narcotics, weapons, and ammunition’ taking advantage of the breach in fencing in the international border that was caused by the recent floods.
As per details, the Rangers have claimed that the alleged smugglers that they have detained hailed from different parts of Punjab and had managed to cross into Pakistan while taking advantage of the flood in Sutlej river, which has caused damage to the iron fencing on the international border. The recent floods have made it difficult for the BSF to conduct patrols or keep a vigil along the international border between India and Pakistan in Punjab.
The Border Security Force (BSF) stated that they had contacted the Rangers recently asking for more information about the alleged smugglers and were waiting for them to get back. Sources in the Punjab Police as well as the BSF, however, said they believed that the detained men had slipped to Pakistan to bring drug consignments back into India.
As per the Pak Rangers, four of the detained men were identified as Gurmeej, son of Guldeep Singh; Shinder Singh, son of Bhora Singh; Juginder Singh, son of Thakur Singh; and Vishal, son of Jagga— all of who belong to Ferozepur of Punjab. The other two men have been identified as Rattan Pal Singh, son of Mahinder Singh, from Jalandhar, and Garvender Singh, son of Mukhtiar Singh, from Ludhiana.
“We had contacted the Pakistan Rangers to provide us more information about these smugglers. However, we have not heard back from them since,” said a BSF official, while talking to The Indian Express. The official added that rivers entered and left Indian territory at several points and it was not possible for them to be fencing off all the areas.
“There were unprecedented floods this year, which have caused damage to the fencing on the international border. We are yet to analyse the damage and the same can only be done after the water level comes down,” said the BSF official.
“We have been working in coordination with Punjab Police and other agencies. A coordination meeting with Punjab Police and other agencies is scheduled to take place in Jalandhar on Friday, where we will discuss all issues, including the breach in fencing along the international border,” he said.
Contacted, Ferozepur SSP Deepak Hilori said that the police teams exchanged information with the BSF on a daily
basis. “Around six gaps have been identified in the iron fencing that have been caused by the flood water. The exact data about these gaps is, however, only available with BSF,” said Hilori.
The SSP added that there have been instances where both the state police force and the BSF have been able to detect people crossing over from either side. “Our counter intelligence wing, in fact, made an arrest earlier this month,” said the SSP.
The incident that the SSP was talking about took place on August 6 when Punjab Police’s counter intelligence team had claimed to recover 77 kilos of heroin from smugglers who had allegedly swam in the Sutlej river to bring the consignment from Pakistan.
In that instance, police had arrested four men — Gagga Gill, alias Gagan; Veer Singh alias Veeru; along with Jaspinder Singh and Jagdeep Singh. They were arrested right after they they returned after picking up the consignment from Pakistan.
Regarding the present claim of Pakistan Rangers, SSP Hilori said, “All agencies have been working on prevention of drug trafficking. We need official confirmation about the news reports emerging in Pakistani media before commenting on the issue on whether these men were from Punjab and had crossed over.”
The incident that the SSP was talking about took place on August 6 when Punjab Police’s counter intelligence team had claimed to recover 77 kilos of heroin from smugglers who had allegedly swam in the Sutlej river to bring the consignment from Pakistan. (Representational image/File) 
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